The ‘Dragon Ball Z’ Composer Who Just Took Over One of Texas’ Most Powerful Offices

Plenty of ‘Dragon Ball Z’ fans have heard Nathan Johnson’s work without ever learning his name. He composed music for 67 episodes and five movies in the English-language release of the anime. Before he entered politics, Johnson helped bring Goku’s adventures to life through music.

The gig came from an unlikely starting point. Johnson has said he had never seen Dragon Ball, never watched an episode of anime, and never made music for a commercial project before taking the job. His résumé was just as unconventional off the soundstage, since he graduated magna cum laude with a physics degree from the University of Arizona and later earned a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Then came Tuesday night. As Complex Pop Culture highlighted on X, Johnson has been elected Texas attorney general. The Democratic state senator defeated Republican Mayes Middleton and will replace Ken Paxton.

The numbers were fairly decisive. According to the Associated Press, Johnson held 52.3 percent of the vote early Wednesday, compared to Middleton’s 46 percent, with Libertarian candidate Tom Oxford receiving about 2 percent. The win makes him the first Democrat elected to the office since Dan Morales, who served from 1991 to 1999.

The result was part of a much bigger night for his party. Bleeding Cool noted that Democrats were on track for a commanding House majority and a significant Senate gain, alongside a string of historic firsts at the state and federal level. Complex reported that the party captured control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterms.

Johnson’s path to this moment has been building for years. The Fort Worth native moved from music production into law, spent time in business litigation, and entered the Texas Senate in 2018 after defeating Republican incumbent Don Huffines. That 2018 win drew attention at the time, with Johnson taking 54% of the vote. According to his campaign website, he helped pass 134 bills into law over four legislative sessions.

His anime past has never been a secret, and he appears to embrace it. Johnson has described the ‘Dragon Ball Z’ work as a creative outlet and a cultural connection few people get, and he has recalled his then 1-year-old son watching on his lap as the action exploded onscreen and excitedly pointing out Goku.

The franchise credits are not a footnote, either. His work spanned ‘Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest,’ ‘The Tree of Might,’ ‘Broly – Second Coming,’ ‘Fusion Reborn,’ and ‘Wrath of the Dragon.’ For a generation that grew up on Toonami-era anime, that is a surprisingly deep catalog for a future attorney general.

Now the focus shifts to the job itself. Johnson is expected to take office in January 2027, overseeing an agency responsible for consumer protection, child support enforcement, and representing Texas in legal matters. After his win, he said he would represent Texans and their state’s interests and, above all, uphold the rule of law.

Whether the internet’s Goku jokes follow him into office remains to be seen. But the image of a ‘Dragon Ball Z’ composer taking over the state’s top legal post is the kind of crossover few fans would have predicted. Somewhere, a Super Saiyan power-up theme is probably playing in the background.