Texas State Senator Angela Paxton announced Thursday she is filing for divorce from her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton, citing “biblical grounds” and alleging infidelity. The decision brings an end to their 38-year marriage amid her husband’s high-profile Senate campaign to unseat incumbent Republican John Cornyn.
In a post on X, Angela Paxton said her choice followed “recent discoveries,” though she did not provide details. In the divorce petition obtained by CNN, she accuses Ken Paxton of adultery and says the couple has lived apart since June 1, 2024.
“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.”
Ken Paxton responded in a separate post, attributing the separation to “countless political attacks and public scrutiny.”
“We 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. I remain committed to supporting our amazing children and grandchildren.”
The divorce announcement could upend Ken Paxton’s bid for the Senate, adding personal turmoil to an already controversial campaign in what is expected to be one of 2026’s most closely watched Republican primaries. Democrats see Paxton as a more vulnerable general election opponent than Cornyn.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) issued a blistering statement after the news broke.
“What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting,” said NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez. “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.”
A longtime Trump ally and vocal conservative, Ken Paxton has become a fixture of right-wing legal battles, repeatedly suing to block actions by Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
But his tenure has been marked by scandal. In 2023, the Texas House impeached him following a whistleblower lawsuit from former staffers who accused Paxton of accepting bribes and abusing his office. At the heart of those allegations was an alleged affair with a woman hired by the same real estate developer at the center of the bribery claims.
Angela Paxton, a sitting senator at the time, attended her husband’s Senate impeachment trial but was barred from voting. Paxton was ultimately acquitted in a trial overseen by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a close political ally.
When asked about the Paxtons’ divorce Thursday on Capitol Hill, Sen. John Cornyn offered a brief comment:
“Seems like a private matter,” he told CNN.
His campaign, however, later posted a local news report about Angela Paxton’s filing, along with the NRSC’s critical statement, signaling the issue could feature prominently in the escalating primary contest.
