A citizen’s guide to Ken Paxton

Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the state’s Republican runoff for US Senate by nearly 30 points, delivering a resounding defeat to incumbent Senator John Cornyn (R-TX).

Paxton’s victory was even more impressive considering the ethical controversies that have plagued his tenure as an elected official. As Attorney General, Paxton has been indicted on felony securities fraud charges, investigated by the SEC, impeached by the Texas House, and sued by the State Bar of Texas for professional misconduct. He was repeatedly accused of using his government position for personal gain — including by members of his staff.

Paxton began his political career more than two decades ago, when he was elected to the Texas House in 2003. He became a state senator in 2013 and then took office as Texas Attorney General in 2015. Paxton is married to another Texas state senator, Angela Paxton, although the couple is currently getting divorced.

Before Paxton’s political career began, he was a lawyer with less than $175,000 in assets. Now, he is a multimillionaire.

Along with ethical scandals, Paxton has pursued a far-right ideological agenda, enthusiastically embracing President Trump’s most controversial positions. He has played a key role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, invalidate Obamacare, and roll back rights for LGBTQ Americans.

Paxton’s fate in the November general election could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. Over the next four months, the cost of the race between Paxton and the Democratic candidate, James Talarico, is expected to reach well into the nine figures.

Some Democrats believe that Paxton’s extreme ideology and political baggage make it easier for Talarico to win. However, in his two decades in public office, Paxton has yet to lose an election.

Indicted for felony securities fraud

Within months of taking office as Texas attorney general in 2015, Paxton was indicted by a state grand jury on felony securities fraud charges. The indictment alleged that Paxton recruited investors for tech start-up Servergy without disclosing that the company was compensating him. Paxton worked with Servergy in 2011, while he was still a Texas state representative. His undisclosed agreement with Servergy also led to federal civil charges, but those were dismissed by a judge in 2017.

The Texas charges took nearly a decade to resolve. Paxton reached a deal with prosecutors just before a trial was set to begin in 2024. Paxton agreed to pay $300,000 in restitution, perform community service, and complete ethics training.

Accused of abusing public office to cover up affair

Paxton has acknowledged engaging in an extramarital affair — a notable admission for a politician who emphasizes traditional family values. He was also accused of abusing his position as attorney general to cover it up.

In 2018, Paxton told his staff at the Texas Attorney General’s office that he had an affair with a woman who was then an employee for a Republican state senator. At the meeting, Paxton claimed the affair was over and he was committed to his marriage.

However, in 2020 eight members of Paxton’s staff issued a whistleblower report alleging that the affair was ongoing and that Paxton had abused the attorney general’s office in order to cover it up. This whistleblower report eventually led to a yearslong lawsuit and Paxton’s impeachment by the Texas House.

Most recently, in July 2025, Paxton’s wife filed for divorce on “biblical grounds,” citing “recent discoveries.” It is not exactly clear what those discoveries were, but the divorce filings state Paxton “committed adultery.” A trial related to the divorce proceeding, scheduled for this month, was abruptly cancelled on June 2.

Favors for a political donor

The whistleblowers on Paxton’s staff also alleged that, in 2020, Paxton abused his office to deliver favors to real estate developer and political donor Nate Paul. The whistleblowers claim that Paxton helped Paul after Paul gave a job to the woman with whom Paxton was having the affair. In a deposition, Paul acknowledged hiring the woman, but said it was not a favor to Paxton.

The whistleblowers claimed Paxton took unusual steps to help Paul through his office, potentially breaking the law. In two instances, Paxton intervened in legal cases Paul was involved in. In another, Paxton had his office issue a legal opinion which helped Paul avoid foreclosure on several properties throughout Texas. Finally, in 2020, Paxton paid a private attorney $300 per hour to investigate claims by Paul that state and federal authorities had committed wrongdoing when they raided his office and home the year before.

While no charges were filed against Paxton as a result of the whistleblower complaint, it did result in a lengthy lawsuit over whether Paxton retaliated against four of the whistleblowers by firing them. In 2023, Paxton reached a tentative $3.3 million settlement with the whistleblowers, but it was contingent on approval of the funds by state legislators — which was not granted.

In 2025, a judge ordered Paxton’s office to pay the whistleblowers $6.6 million. Paxton appealed this decision, but dropped his appeal a few months later. The payment still needs to be appropriated by the legislature, and may begin accruing interest if the whistleblowers are not paid soon.