Texas State Senator Angela Paxton filed for divorce Thursday from her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton, ending nearly four decades of marriage between two prominent Republican political figures. The filing, made in Collin County, cites adultery and irreconcilable differences as grounds for the split.
Angela Paxton publicly confirmed the divorce on the social media platform X, writing that she was seeking the separation “on biblical grounds.”
“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 petition, Angela Paxton stated that the couple ceased living together in June 2024. The filing reads, “The marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities between Petitioner and Respondent that destroys the legitimate ends of the marriage relationship and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation.”
Ken Paxton responded publicly on X shortly after his wife’s statement, writing, “After facing the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny, Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter in our lives. I remain committed to supporting our amazing children and grandchildren. I ask for your prayers and privacy at this time.”
The high-profile divorce comes as Ken Paxton, a polarizing conservative figure in Texas politics, mounts a campaign for U.S. Senate against incumbent Senator John Cornyn. The development is likely to further complicate a race already shadowed by Paxton’s controversial political and legal history.
Throughout his tenure, Paxton has faced a string of legal and ethical challenges, including a 2023 impeachment trial in which he was acquitted by the Texas Senate. The charges stemmed in part from allegations that he had used his office to benefit a donor and conceal an extramarital affair. Angela Paxton, despite being a senator, recused herself from voting in her husband’s trial.
Ken Paxton has also faced long-running felony securities fraud charges dating back to 2015. In 2024, he avoided trial through a deferred prosecution agreement that required him to perform community service and pay restitution. The case was officially closed earlier this year.
The Paxtons, married since 1986, have four adult children and five grandchildren. Both rose to political prominence in North Texas—Ken through the Legislature and Attorney General’s Office, and Angela through her 2019 election to the state Senate, where she has focused on education policy. A former school counselor, she represents Collin, Hunt, and Rains counties.
Before her own political career, Angela Paxton was a frequent presence on her husband’s campaign trail, once gaining attention for singing a self-written tune featuring the lyrics, “I’m a pistol packin’ mama and my husband sues Obama.”
With Ken Paxton’s Senate bid gaining national attention, the divorce introduces a new dynamic into an already closely watched race. Cornyn, who has long been critical of Paxton’s legal troubles, has not commented publicly. A spokesperson for the senator’s campaign declined to address the divorce filing.
By: BSH staff