Texas State Sen. Angela Paxton filed for divorce from Attorney General Ken Paxton after 38 years of marriage, citing adultery and a breakdown in their relationship following “recent discoveries.” The news comes as Ken Paxton campaigns for the U.S. Senate amid ongoing ethics and legal controversies.
State Sen. Angela Paxton announced Thursday that she has filed for divorce from her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, after nearly four decades of marriage. The filing comes during a turbulent political period for the attorney general, who is actively campaigning to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the upcoming Republican primary.
Angela Paxton, a Republican from McKinney, announced in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), citing “recent discoveries” and the need to balance her faith and well-being.
“I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation,” she wrote. “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.”
In her official court filing, Sen. Paxton alleged adultery as grounds for divorce and stated that the couple has not lived together since “on or about June 1, 2024.” The filing, obtained by The Texas Tribune, paints a picture of a long-strained marriage that has now reached a definitive end.
In a separate statement, Attorney General Paxton acknowledged the split and attributed it to the pressures of public life.
“Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter, amid the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny,” he said.
Ken Paxton, one of the most polarizing figures in Texas politics, has faced a cascade of legal and ethical controversies over the past decade. Most notably, he was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 over allegations that he abused his office to benefit Austin real estate developer Nate Paul and to cover up an extramarital affair with a former Senate aide.
The Senate later acquitted Paxton after a nearly two-week trial. Angela Paxton attended the proceedings but was barred from voting or participating in deliberations due to her conflict of interest. The woman at the center of the affair allegations was subpoenaed and appeared in the Senate chamber but ultimately did not testify.
Though the affair was previously believed to have ended in 2019, investigators claim it resumed in 2020. Angela Paxton’s divorce filing appears to confirm that trust in the marriage never fully recovered.
Despite the ongoing swirl of scandals, Paxton has managed to maintain strong political support, winning reelection as attorney general even while under felony indictment and federal investigation. Prosecutors dropped his long-standing securities fraud charges last year, and he has avoided penalties from both the FBI and the Texas Bar Association.
Still, this public and deeply personal rupture could carry political consequences. As he mounts a challenge to Sen. Cornyn in 2026, Paxton’s divorce could serve as a vulnerability in a race expected to focus heavily on ethics, credibility, and family values—issues Cornyn’s team has already signaled they intend to highlight.
The divorce may also complicate Paxton’s pursuit of a high-stakes endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who remains popular with Texas GOP voters. Trump reportedly discussed the Senate race this week with Majority Leader John Thune and leaders of the Senate Republicans’ main super PAC, according to Punchbowl News.
Angela Paxton, who was first elected to her husband’s former Senate seat in 2019 and reelected in 2022, has largely aligned with his political agenda during her time in office. Her decision to go public with the divorce marks a dramatic shift and has shocked even close observers of Texas politics.
Whether the divorce will influence Ken Paxton’s electoral future remains to be seen, but the timing and substance of the filing suggest it will be difficult for voters—and his rivals—to ignore.
