Texas AG Ken Paxton Finalizes Divorce, Ending Long Marriage

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has finalized his divorce from Angela Paxton, one of his attorneys said Thursday.

The divorce was finalized nearly a week after Paxton, a Republican, lost his U.S. Senate bid by double digits to Democrat James Talarico. The race was among the most expensive contests of the midterm elections, which brought a wave of Democratic victories nationwide.

Angela Paxton, a Texas state senator, cited allegations of adultery when she filed to end their 38-year marriage.

She initiated the divorce proceedings after her husband had launched his Senate campaign, saying on social media that she was seeking the split on “biblical grounds.”

Jared Julian, an attorney for Ken Paxton, said the details of the divorce settlement would remain confidential.

“From my observation, however, they share a mutual respect for one another,” Julian said. He added that both appeared ready to move forward and “to the next chapters of their lives.”

An attorney representing Angela Paxton did not immediately return phone calls or email messages Thursday. The New York Times was the first to report that the divorce had been finalized.

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Following Paxton’s entry into the Senate race, some Republicans warned that he could become a burden on GOP resources because of the legal, ethical and personal controversies that have followed him for years.

Angela Paxton had remained with her husband through a decade of legal challenges, including state and federal corruption investigations and a 2023 Texas impeachment trial that brought an extramarital affair into public view.

What initially appeared to be a long-shot Senate campaign for Democrats became, in part, a referendum on Paxton’s record. Although he defeated longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary and secured an endorsement from President Donald Trump, Paxton struggled to gain momentum in the general election against Talarico.

In October, fewer than four weeks before Election Day, Angela Paxton urged voters to support the Republican ticket without naming her estranged husband.

“It’s not as much about the individual players on the team. It’s about getting the whole team across the finish line,” she said in a campaign advertisement.

Democrat Nathan Johnson was elected attorney general and is scheduled to take office in January.