Ken Paxton is facing growing skepticism among suburban women in Texas, including longtime conservative voters who say his personal controversies have made them question whether they can support him.
In Houston’s suburbs, women told the Washington Post that the Texas attorney general’s contentious public image and bitter divorce have become important factors in the race against Democrat James Talarico.
Some Republican women said they were hesitant to vote for Paxton. Others told the newspaper they were weighing a vote for the Democrat or considering skipping the election entirely.
The unease comes as Paxton remains under scrutiny over his relationship with his estranged wife, State Senator Angela Paxton. She filed for divorce last year after nearly four decades of marriage and alleged adultery.
Paxton has also been photographed overseas with Tracy Duhon, a Christian influencer widely presumed to be his girlfriend.
The two were seen together in Iceland and London over the July Fourth weekend. They had also reportedly attended a New Year’s Eve celebration in Dubai in 2024.
The focus on Paxton’s personal life comes as he seeks office in Texas, where Republicans have controlled statewide elections for decades.
In Bridgeland, a large subdivision in the Cypress area, residents told the Washington Post that campaign signs for Democratic candidate Talarico appeared more prominent than those backing Paxton.
Some Republican women told the Post they were reluctant to support Paxton, while others said they were considering voting for the Democrat or sitting out the election altogether.
A recent campaign ad from Angela Paxton, intended to encourage support for the Republican ticket, only deepened one voter’s doubts. In the commercial, she urges Texans to vote Republican without naming her husband.
‘In a general election, it’s not as much about the individual players on the team,’ Paxton said in an early October ad.
One mother of two who works in medical content sales told the newspaper that she had voted for Republican Senator John Cornyn in the primary but now planned to support Talarico.
She said she feared additional corruption allegations could surface if Paxton won the election.
She also questioned whether Paxton had been sufficiently direct in his answers to questions.
Angela Paxton’s latest campaign ad, which sought to build support for the Republican ticket, further strengthened those doubts.
In the commercial, she called on Texans to vote for the Republican ticket without referring to her husband by name.
She framed the election as a choice about preserving Republican control rather than focusing on individual candidates.
The woman called the advertisement an “even bigger turnoff,” saying it conveyed the message: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Another woman interviewed by the newspaper, an elementary schoolteacher, said character was guiding her decision, even though her husband intended to vote for Paxton because of economic concerns.
Paxton has been photographed traveling abroad with Tracy Duhon, a Christian influencer widely presumed to be his girlfriend.
One mother of two who works in medical content sales told the Post she had voted for Republican Senator John Cornyn in the primary but now intended to support Talarico
A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll released in October found Talarico leading Paxton among women, 56 percent to 40 percent. Among suburban voters overall, the Democrat held a 54 percent to 44 percent advantage
She said she did not consider the Republican a trustworthy role model for children.
The divide shows the hurdles Paxton faces with voters who agree with his conservative positions but are uncomfortable with the allegations surrounding his personal life.
Not all Republican women interviewed were abandoning him.
One 57-year-old human resources worker said she continued to support Paxton because of his hardline positions on issues including border security, human trafficking, and gender-transition care for minors.
She said his personal life would not affect how she decides to vote.
But the Post also reported that some conservative voters were reluctant to discuss their intentions publicly, leaving questions about how much support Paxton could ultimately retain.
A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll released in October found Talarico leading Paxton among women, 56 percent to 40 percent.
Among suburban voters overall, the Democrat held a 54 percent to 44 percent advantage.
Paxton’s daughter Mattie has also appeared in campaign material and publicly defended her father’s character.
The Republican’s personal controversies are not his only political vulnerability.
His 2023 impeachment by the Texas House followed allegations including bribery and abuse of office, though he was acquitted by the Republican-controlled state Senate.
A separate securities-fraud case was dismissed in 2025 after he completed a pretrial diversion program without admitting guilt.
Meanwhile, Talarico has built a substantial fundraising advantage.
The Democrat raised $64 million in the third quarter, compared with $18 million for Paxton.
Paxton has promoted proposals on housing, healthcare, and tax relief, while Talarico has put forward plans including universal childcare and assistance for first-time homebuyers.
