Ken Paxton

Ken Paxton
Paxton in 2025
Ken Paxton
Born	Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. 23 12, 1962
Birthplace	Minot, North Dakota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	51st Attorney General of Texas
Education	University of Virginia (JD)
Children	4
Website	[kenpaxton.com Official site]

Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. (born December 23, 1962) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the 51st Attorney General of Texas since January 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Paxton rose to statewide prominence through his alignment with the Tea Party movement and has become one of the most polarizing figures in Texas politics. Before assuming the role of attorney general, he served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013 and in the Texas Senate from 2013 to 2015. His tenure as attorney general has been marked by an aggressive posture of litigation against the federal government — particularly during the administration of President Joe Biden — as well as prolonged legal controversies including a state securities fraud indictment, a federal securities fraud complaint by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and a historic impeachment by the Texas House of Representatives in 2023, from which he was acquitted by the Texas Senate. Described as a staunch ally of former and current President Donald Trump, Paxton has positioned himself as a leading conservative legal voice in national Republican politics. In April 2025, Paxton announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2026 election, challenging incumbent Republican senator John Cornyn in the primary.

Early Life

Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. was born on December 23, 1962, in Minot, North Dakota. He later relocated to Texas, where he would build his political and legal career. Details regarding his parents, siblings, and childhood upbringing are not extensively documented in available public records. Paxton settled in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area, specifically in Collin County, which would become his political base for the duration of his career in public office.

Education

Paxton attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Business Administration. He subsequently attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. After completing law school, Paxton was admitted to the State Bar of Texas and entered private legal practice in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

Career

Texas House of Representatives (2003–2013)

Paxton began his career in elected office when he won election to the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 70th district. He took office on January 14, 2003, succeeding David Counts. During his decade in the Texas House, Paxton established a record as a conservative legislator. He received endorsements from prominent conservative organizations, including the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund, which assigned him high marks for his support of gun rights legislation. He also received endorsements from groups such as HuckPAC, the political action committee associated with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

During his time in the House, Paxton was also involved in leadership contests within the Republican caucus. He announced a bid for Speaker of the Texas House, although he did not ultimately win the position. The Texas State Rifle Association also endorsed Paxton during his House tenure.

Paxton served the 70th district for five terms before seeking higher office. He was succeeded in the Texas House by Scott Sanford.

Texas Senate (2013–2015)

In 2012, Paxton won election to the Texas Senate, representing the 8th district. He succeeded Florence Shapiro and took office on January 8, 2013. His tenure in the Senate was relatively brief, lasting two years, as he soon set his sights on the statewide office of attorney general. During his time in the Senate, Paxton continued to build his conservative credentials and establish alliances within the Tea Party wing of the Texas Republican Party. He was succeeded in the Senate by Van Taylor.

Attorney General of Texas (2015–present)

Election and Rise to Power

In 2014, Paxton ran for attorney general of Texas following the decision of incumbent Greg Abbott to run for governor. The race drew a competitive Republican primary field, but Paxton's alignment with the Tea Party movement and conservative grassroots organizations proved decisive. He won the Republican primary runoff, defeating his opponent in a contest that was characterized by media outlets as a victory for Tea Party conservatives within the GOP. Paxton went on to win the general election and was sworn in as the 51st Attorney General of Texas on January 5, 2015, with the state's political establishment in attendance at the ceremony.

Paxton was subsequently re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022, maintaining his hold on the office despite ongoing legal controversies.

Tenure and Federal Litigation

As attorney general, Paxton adopted an aggressive posture of litigation against the federal government, particularly during the administration of President Joe Biden. Over the course of the Biden presidency, Paxton pursued legal action against the administration a total of 106 times, positioning the Texas Attorney General's office as one of the most active state-level legal challengers to federal policy.

Among his notable actions, Paxton lent support to county clerks who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

In a more recent action, Paxton's office pursued litigation against Xcel Energy following the Smokehouse Creek fire, the largest wildfire in Texas state history, which was sparked by a damaged Xcel utility pole. Following the attorney general's lawsuit, Xcel agreed to replace poles identified as being at risk of causing wildfires.

In February 2026, the Texas Medical Board publicly stated that Paxton had made "inaccurate statements" in his support of a Houston-area doctor, Mary Talley Bowden, who had filed a lawsuit related to medical board proceedings.

Role in 2020 Election Disputes

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump, Paxton became a prominent figure in efforts to challenge the election results. He filed Texas v. Pennsylvania at the U.S. Supreme Court, a lawsuit that sought to invalidate the election results in four states — Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin — that Biden had won. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case, rejecting Texas's standing to challenge other states' election procedures.

On January 6, 2021, Paxton spoke at the rally held by President Trump in Washington, D.C., which preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol. These actions further cemented Paxton's reputation as one of Trump's closest allies among state-level officeholders.

Securities Fraud Indictment

In 2015, Paxton was indicted on state securities fraud charges relating to activities that occurred before he took office as attorney general. The charges alleged that Paxton had solicited investors for a technology company without being registered as a securities agent with the state and had failed to disclose that he was being compensated for the referrals. Paxton pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Separately, in April 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Paxton, also alleging securities fraud related to the same underlying conduct. The American Bar Association Journal reported on the SEC complaint, noting Paxton's attorney denied the allegations.

The state criminal case was subject to prolonged delays and venue changes over the course of nearly a decade. Upon fulfilling a pretrial agreement that included restitution to the victims, ethics training, and community service, the state charges were dismissed in 2025.

Whistleblower Allegations and Impeachment

In October 2020, several high-level assistants in Paxton's office publicly accused him of "bribery, abuse of office and other crimes." The whistleblowers alleged that Paxton had used his official position to benefit a political donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. The allegations triggered both state and federal investigations.

On May 27, 2023, the Texas House of Representatives voted 121–23 to impeach Paxton, making him only the third sitting official in Texas history to be impeached. The articles of impeachment included allegations that Paxton had given preferential treatment to a political donor who had bribed him, misapplied public resources, made false statements against the whistleblowers in his office, obstructed justice in the securities fraud trial against him, and made false statements regarding his financial interests.

Following the impeachment vote, Paxton was immediately suspended from office. Governor Greg Abbott appointed John Scott as interim attorney general, who served until he was replaced by Angela Colmenero on July 14, 2023.

The impeachment trial took place in the Texas Senate in September 2023. On September 16, 2023, the Senate voted 16–14 to acquit Paxton on all articles of impeachment, ending his suspension and restoring him to office. The acquittal vote largely fell along factional lines within the Republican Party, with Paxton's allies in the party's right wing providing the votes necessary for acquittal.

Following the impeachment proceedings, federal prosecutors conducted a separate investigation into the same underlying allegations. The Department of Justice ultimately declined to prosecute Paxton on any charges.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

On April 8, 2025, Paxton announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat held by incumbent Republican senator John Cornyn in the 2026 election. Paxton entered the Republican primary as a challenger to Cornyn, positioning himself as the more conservative alternative and emphasizing his alliance with President Trump.

The primary race drew significant national attention, with political analysts and Republican strategists expressing concern that a competitive primary could provide an opening for the Democratic candidate in the general election. As of February 2026, the race also included Representative Wesley Hunt as a third major candidate, further splitting the Republican electorate.

A notable dynamic of the primary was President Trump's reluctance to issue an endorsement. National Republicans urged Trump to endorse Cornyn, the incumbent, but as of late February 2026, Trump had not done so, a situation that was seen as benefiting Paxton given his strong association with the Trump political brand.

In February 2026, Paxton attended President Trump's State of the Union address as a guest of Representative Troy Nehls, a move that underscored the rivalry between Paxton and Cornyn, who was also present in his capacity as a sitting senator.

CNN reported that Paxton was leading in polls of the Republican primary as of late February 2026, despite the controversies that had defined much of his tenure as attorney general.

Personal Life

Paxton resides in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area in Collin County, Texas. He has four children. His political career has been closely intertwined with his personal and professional life in the North Texas region, where he has maintained his political base since first winning election to the Texas House of Representatives in 2002.

Paxton is a member of the State Bar of Texas.

Recognition

Paxton's career has been marked by both significant political support from conservative organizations and intense scrutiny from opponents and legal authorities. He received endorsements from the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund during his time in the Texas House of Representatives and was identified as a leading Tea Party-aligned figure in Texas Republican politics during his successful 2014 campaign for attorney general.

His role in filing Texas v. Pennsylvania at the U.S. Supreme Court and his repeated legal challenges to the Biden administration's policies made him a nationally recognized figure among conservative legal advocates. CNN described Paxton as having "survived under a cloud of scandal all 12 years he has served as the state's attorney general," while also noting his continued electoral success and political influence within the Republican Party.