Johnson, a state senator from Dallas, defeated Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton by a margin of 52.4% to 45.9%, a spread of more than 600,000 votes. The victory came amid a broader Democratic wave that also gave the party a majority in the Texas House for the first time in three decades.

In an interview the day after the election, Johnson said he had anticipated a narrow win but was surprised by the scale of the Democratic surge.

"I did not see how tall the wave was," Johnson said. "I didn't realize it was a tsunami."

He attributed his victory in part to voters' fatigue with political spectacle and a desire for a return to fundamentals.

"I really wanted to emphasize a return to respect for the rule of law," Johnson said. "Whether you're talking about voting rights or consumer protection or market competition or busting up cartels, it's all a respect for the rule of law."

Johnson said he plans to overhaul the attorney general's office, which he argued was used "as a tool of partisan warfare" under Paxton. He pointed to what he described as frivolous lawsuits filed for political stunts and said the agency should instead focus on its core functions: rooting out corruption, protecting consumers, ensuring competitive markets, supporting district attorneys, administering child support, and managing public finance.

"The AG's office is not supposed to be a power for a conservative or a progressive movement," Johnson said. "It is supposed to uphold the rule of law."

His first priority, he said, will be rebuilding the office's personnel. Johnson described an agency short on staff and burdened by an ideological culture that drove away capable employees.

"There's some ideologues that need to go look for work elsewhere," he said. "And then I think there's a lot of really good people there who are going to be freed up to do their jobs to their fullest potential."

Johnson also said he will review pending litigation and investigations inherited from Paxton, clearing out what he called "political nonsense" to free up resources for legitimate cases. He wants to examine whether state statutes in market competition, consumer protection, and employment are keeping pace with changes in technology, marketing, and corporate structures.

With Democrats now holding a House majority, Johnson said he has more than 100 pieces of legislation drafted in his office that he was previously unable to advance. He plans to hand off bills on housing, recycling, and THC regulation to colleagues who can shepherd them through the legislative process.

On THC, Johnson said there is broad consensus that a straight ban is neither effective nor beneficial, but that a completely unregulated regime is also unworkable. He favors strict regulatory enforcement that keeps products safe and out of the hands of minors.

Johnson was cautious about immediately challenging federal policies under President Donald Trump, saying he wants to assess pending matters carefully. But he singled out efforts by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Oz to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from state Medicaid programs, saying he will examine whether the federal government has the legal authority to proceed.

"I think it's important that the attorney general follow the rule of law," Johnson said. "I'm going to do a careful study of everything that's pending and ask myself, does this harm the interests of people in the state of Texas? Is it illegal, and can I prove it? And if the answer to all those questions is yes, I'm going to pursue it."

Johnson is set to take office in January.