Senator Angela Paxton’s decision to file for divorce from her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has sent shockwaves through Texas political and legal circles.
The divorce, filed on “biblical grounds” and citing adultery, could carry major implications for the attorney general’s ongoing political ambitions — including his potential primary challenge against longtime U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
Legal Filing Details:
According to public court records filed Thursday morning, July 10, in Collin County, Sen. Paxton, a Republican lawmaker representing North Texas, formally accused her husband of committing adultery and stated that she holds him responsible for the breakdown of their nearly 38-year marriage. The filing also confirms the couple has been separated since June 1, 2024.
Later that day, Sen. Paxton made a public statement on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“I filed for divorce on biblical grounds. 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.”
While she did not specify what the “recent discoveries” were, her statement alludes to previously undisclosed developments, potentially related to past allegations of misconduct.
Background: Allegations Resurface
The divorce brings renewed attention to earlier infidelity allegations that surfaced during Ken Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial. Among the articles of impeachment brought by the Texas House was an accusation involving a longtime extramarital affair. Though the alleged other woman, Laura Olson, appeared at the Capitol with counsel, she never testified due to a ruling from presiding officer Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Notably, Sen. Angela Paxton was barred from voting during her husband’s impeachment trial but remained a vocal supporter throughout the proceedings, during which Paxton was ultimately acquitted.
Political Repercussions: Damage Control Amid Senate Ambitions
Observers say the divorce could complicate Attorney General Paxton’s 2026 U.S. Senate bid to unseat fellow Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who has served four terms. Though Cornyn’s campaign declined to comment, Joanna Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, issued a pointed statement online:
“What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting.”
Dr. Matthew Wilson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, told CBS News Texas that Sen. Paxton’s public and personal break from her husband may deal a significant blow to his political brand:
“Angela Paxton’s support has always been important to Ken Paxton… Now that will no longer be the case, and so I think it is damaging… It certainly plays into a narrative… about how Ken Paxton has moral character issues — whether it’s corruption, adultery, marital infidelity, whatever it may be.”
Outlook: Filing Deadline and Primary Landscape
Despite the controversy, Ken Paxton still leads in early polling among Republican primary voters. But with the filing window opening November 8 and closing December 8, other GOP figures such as Rep. Wesley Hunt (Houston) and Rep. Beth Van Duyne (North Texas) may enter the race and change the dynamics.
Van Duyne, when asked about a possible Senate run, told CBS News Texas that her current focus is on serving her congressional district.
Political analysts note that while voters have increasingly overlooked marital scandals, the moral credibility narrative remains potent in a crowded primary where character and conservative values play a central role.
While the Paxtons’ divorce filing is a personal matter, its timing and underlying allegations could have far-reaching legal and political consequences. As Ken Paxton attempts to navigate the fallout from his wife’s very public break — and prepare for a high-stakes Senate campaign — the intersection of family law, public trust, and political ambition is now front and center.
