Texas Sen. Angela Paxton announced today (Thursday, July 10) that she has filed for divorce from her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a report by The Texas Tribune.
Angela Paxton said she is divorcing Ken Paxton after 38 years “on biblical grounds” following “recent discoveries.”
Paxton is one of Texas’ most right-wing, most homophobic and most transphobic state officials. The LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender Texans, is one of his favorite targets when he is looking to rile up his hateful voter base. He has been Texas attorney general since 2015, and was impeached — but not convicted — in 2023 based on allegations of corruption that were related, in part, to an extramarital affair.
Ken Paxton has chosen to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 GOP primary rather than run for another term as attorney general. Democratic former Congressman Colin Allred recently announced that he is running for the Democratic nomination to replace Cornyn.
In a statement posted to X, Angela Paxton said: “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.”
Ken Paxton, for his part, issued a statement blaming the impending divorce on “pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny.” He also referred the move as “start[ing] a new chapter” rather than “getting a divorce.”
— Tammye Nash