Texas state Senator Angela Paxton announced on Thursday, July 10, 2025, that she has filed for divorce from her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, citing "biblical grounds" and "recent discoveries" as the reasons behind the split. The couple, married for 38 years, have been living apart since June 2024, according to court records filed in Collin County.
In a heartfelt post on the social media platform X, Angela Paxton wrote, "I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation. But in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to remain in the marriage." Her divorce petition accuses Ken Paxton of adultery, stating that the marriage has become "insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities" and that they ceased living together "as spouses" over a year ago.
Ken Paxton, who is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat held by John Cornyn, responded to the announcement on X, acknowledging the difficult decision. "After facing the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny, Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter in our lives," he wrote. "I could not be any more proud or grateful for the incredible family that God has blessed us with, and I remain committed to supporting our amazing children and grandchildren. I ask for your prayers and privacy at this time." Notably, Ken Paxton did not address the adultery allegations in his statement.
The Paxtons have been prominent figures in Texas Republican politics for decades. Ken Paxton was elected attorney general in 2014 and has served since 2015 after a decade in the state legislature. Angela Paxton, a former school counselor and teacher, was elected to the Texas Senate in 2019, representing a large swath of North Texas, including Collin, Hunt, and Rains counties. She was reelected to another four-year term in November 2024.
Ken Paxton's political career has been marked by persistent controversy. He was impeached in 2023 by the Texas House of Representatives on charges including bribery and abuse of office, but the Republican-controlled Texas Senate acquitted him after a nearly two-week trial. The impeachment proceedings also brought to light allegations of an extramarital affair, which Paxton’s former chief of staff, Katherine Cary, testified about. Cary revealed that Paxton admitted to the affair during a 2018 meeting with top aides and his wife. The affair reportedly ended briefly in 2019 after Angela Paxton learned of it, but resumed in 2020.
Angela Paxton attended the impeachment trial but was prohibited from voting or participating in deliberations. The trial also focused on accusations that Ken Paxton had helped a wealthy Austin real estate developer, Nate Paul, who was alleged to have employed the woman with whom Paxton was having the affair. Despite these serious allegations, Paxton’s lawyers downplayed the affair's relevance, with one lawyer noting, "Imagine if we impeached everybody here in Austin that had had an affair. We’d be impeaching for the next 100 years, wouldn’t we?" Ultimately, the Senate voted to acquit Paxton on all charges, allowing him to remain in office.
Beyond impeachment, Ken Paxton faced a long-running securities fraud case dating back to 2016. The Securities and Exchange Commission initially charged him, but a judge dismissed those charges. State prosecutors pursued the case for years until a 2024 pretrial agreement led to the charges being dropped, with Paxton agreeing to pay restitution and perform community service. Additionally, a federal criminal corruption investigation into Paxton, initiated by former aides who lodged complaints with the FBI, ended without charges. He also survived a lawsuit from the State Bar of Texas over his efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results.
Despite the scandals, Paxton has maintained strong support among some conservative voters. Early polling indicates he leads incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary for the 2026 midterm elections. Paxton has aligned himself closely with former President Donald Trump, actively promoting Trump’s political agenda and opposing the Biden administration’s policies. Notably, Paxton led efforts to have the Supreme Court invalidate the 2020 election results in battleground states, though the court dismissed the case.
The divorce announcement comes at a politically sensitive time. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which has endorsed Cornyn, issued a sharp rebuke of Ken Paxton following the filing. NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said on X, "What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting. No one should have to endure what Angela Paxton has, and we pray for her as she chooses to stand up for herself and her family during this difficult time." Cornyn’s campaign declined to comment directly on the divorce but reposted a message from a former Republican state lawmaker calling Paxton "morally unfit to hold office." Cornyn himself, a 22-year Senate veteran first elected in 2002, described the divorce as a "private matter" and expressed sympathy for Angela Paxton.
President Trump has yet to endorse in the Texas Senate primary, stating he likes both candidates and will decide later. However, on July 9, 2025, Senate Majority Leader John Thune met with Trump and GOP operatives to discuss Senate races, including Texas. Thune emphasized the need for an "electable candidate that can win not just a primary, but a general," suggesting the party’s focus on securing the seat in the upcoming midterms.
The Paxtons' divorce not only sheds light on personal struggles but also threatens to reshape the dynamics of a high-stakes Senate race in Texas. The allegations of adultery and the public nature of the split could provide ammunition to opponents and complicate Ken Paxton's efforts to secure the Republican nomination and potentially the Senate seat. For Angela Paxton, the decision to file for divorce after nearly four decades of marriage marks a significant personal and political turning point.
As the race heats up and the divorce proceedings unfold, Texas political observers will be watching closely to see how this development influences voter sentiment and campaign strategies in one of the nation’s most consequential primary contests.
