Texas politics has a new attorney general in Nathan Johnson, a Democrat whose résumé includes an unexpected chapter as a composer for the beloved anime series Dragon Ball Z. Before entering the political arena, Johnson created musical scores for 67 episodes and five movies, giving him a rather unusual connection to one of anime’s most recognizable franchises. His victory in the 2026 midterm elections has now brought that little-known creative achievement back into the spotlight.

In a political season dominated by campaign rallies, partisan battles, and the fight for congressional control, Johnson has a story that would be difficult to script.

Nathan Johnson’s journey from composing Dragon Ball Z music to Texas politics

Nathan Johnson recently celebrated his election victory by revisiting his time in the anime industry. In a Facebook post, he revealed that he composed the musical scores for 67 episodes of Dragon Ball Z and five of its movies. The experience was more than another professional credit for him, as it also gave him a special connection with his children. 

During an interview with Texas Senator Taylor Rehmet, Johnson recalled having his one-year-old son sitting on his knee while the action played out on screen. 

“I wrote the musical scores, wall to wall, of 67 episodes of ‘Dragon Ball Z’ and five of the movies. I had a one-year-old at the time, and I remember him sitting on my knee and stuff blowing up,” he said. 

The composer, as he shares, eventually traded the recording studio for the Texas Senate, winning his first election in 2018 and taking office in 2019. A practicing attorney with a background in physics and law, Johnson represented District 16 in Dallas County and built his legislative record around healthcare, infrastructure, criminal justice, and government accountability. 

The political world may know Johnson for his legislative record, but anime fans have an entirely different reason to recognize his name. And with Dragon Ball finding itself back in the headlines through a new anime revival, his connection to the franchise has become particularly timely. 

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus brings the franchise back into the spotlight

There is another interesting twist to Nathan Johnson’s connection with the franchise. Dragon Ball is currently enjoying another major moment, but its latest revival has also reignited an old debate about how Toei Animation handles one of anime’s biggest properties. For someone who once helped give Goku’s adventures their musical identity, the franchise is hardly a distant footnote.

The latest project, Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, premiered in Japan on October 11, 2026, bringing an enhanced version of the original Dragon Ball Super anime to audiences. The new edition features revised animation, additional sequences, reconstructed storytelling, and newly recorded dialogue, music, and sound effects. However, ScreenRant’s November 3 report argues that Toei’s distribution strategy continues to limit the franchise’s global potential. 

That criticism carries particular weight when considering the franchise’s international popularity. The original Dragon Ball Super ran for 131 episodes between 2015 and 2018, while its major movies helped introduce Goku’s adventures to another generation of viewers. With Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol also announced, Toei has another opportunity to bring the global fandom together rather than allowing release schedules to divide its audience.

For Johnson, the journey from composing Goku’s battles to winning one of Texas’ highest political offices makes for an extraordinary career transition. 

What do you think about his unexpected Dragon Ball Z connection? Share your thoughts in the comments.