Angela Paxton Files Divorce from Texas AG after 38 Years Marriage/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Texas Sen. Angela Paxton has filed for divorce from Attorney General Ken Paxton after nearly four decades of marriage, citing recent revelations. The split unfolds as Ken Paxton campaigns for the U.S. Senate following years of legal controversies. Both issued statements seeking privacy amid personal and political turbulence.
Angela Paxton Divorce Quick Looks
- Angela Paxton files for divorce after 38-year marriage.
- Divorce follows Ken Paxton’s legal battles and political ambitions.
- Angela cites “recent discoveries” and biblical grounds for split.
- Ken Paxton running for U.S. Senate, challenging Sen. John Cornyn.
- Couple long intertwined in Texas Republican politics.
- Ken acquitted in 2023 impeachment over alleged misconduct.
- Divorce announcement adds personal drama to political spotlight.
- Both request privacy while focusing on family and faith.
Angela Paxton Files Divorce from Texas AG after 38 Years Marriage
Deep Look
In a seismic twist to Texas political circles, Republican state Sen. Angela Paxton announced on Thursday she has filed for divorce from her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, bringing an abrupt end to 38 years of marriage that has been deeply interwoven with their public and political lives.
The announcement, made by Angela Paxton on social media, comes at a pivotal moment for the embattled attorney general, who is currently campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat against incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 GOP primary. For years, Angela has stood beside Ken Paxton as he navigated a series of legal and ethical storms, from state and federal corruption investigations to a high-profile impeachment trial that threatened to end his career.
Angela Paxton’s statement cited profound personal reasons behind her decision. “Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds,” she wrote in a post on X. “I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation. 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.”
Although Angela did not elaborate on what those “recent discoveries” were, her language suggests that private matters, potentially related to Ken Paxton’s past infidelities, may have resurfaced or come into sharper focus. The shadow of Ken Paxton’s admitted extramarital affair, which became a central topic during his 2023 impeachment trial, continues to loom over the couple’s personal narrative.
Ken Paxton responded publicly to the news later the same day, offering measured words tinged with personal reflection. “After facing the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny, Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter in our lives,” he wrote on X. “I could not be any more proud or grateful for the incredible family that God has blessed us with, and I remain committed to supporting our amazing children and grandchildren.”
The Paxtons’ relationship has long been a fixture in Texas Republican politics. Angela, once a high school teacher and guidance counselor, famously strummed a guitar at campaign stops singing the catchy refrain, “I’m a pistol-packin’ mama, and my husband sues Obama,” reflecting the couple’s close political alliance and shared conservative ideology.
Angela’s own political career took flight in 2018, buoyed in part by a $2 million loan from Ken Paxton. She secured a narrow victory for a Texas state Senate seat representing the rapidly growing Dallas suburbs. Once in office, she advocated for legislation that expanded her husband’s power as attorney general and voted on budgets for the very agency he ran, cementing their intertwined roles in Texas governance.
Their public partnership faced its greatest test during Ken Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial, where he faced allegations of abusing his office to benefit a political donor, real estate developer Nate Paul, who was under FBI investigation. Central to the accusations was Paxton’s admitted affair, which prosecutors claimed motivated his actions to aid Paul. The impeachment proceedings included a dramatic moment when the woman allegedly involved was called to testify, though she ultimately never took the witness stand.
Angela Paxton attended every day of the two-week trial, often sitting silently as intimate details of her husband’s private life spilled into public view. However, she was prohibited from casting a vote in the final verdict due to a conflict of interest, as stipulated by Texas Senate rules. In the end, Ken Paxton was acquitted on all charges, emerging politically wounded but legally intact.
Legal troubles continued to swirl around Ken Paxton after the trial. A long-standing state securities fraud case was finally resolved in 2024 through a plea deal, which saw him agree to restitution payments and community service in exchange for dismissal of charges. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its separate federal corruption probe into Paxton, removing another significant cloud over his political future.
Despite surviving these challenges, Paxton now faces a fresh set of personal hurdles. His divorce introduces significant unpredictability into his Senate campaign, given how closely his political identity has been tied to his family and Christian faith. Political analysts suggest the split could raise questions among conservative voters about character and integrity, even if it doesn’t directly impact his legal standing.
Meanwhile, Angela Paxton’s future in Texas politics remains uncertain. A powerful figure in her own right, she has carved out influence in the state Senate but may now find her political trajectory complicated by public scrutiny over her personal life and the evolving dynamics of the Republican Party.
For now, both Angela and Ken Paxton have asked for privacy as they navigate this deeply personal chapter. As Angela concluded in her announcement: “I move forward with complete confidence that God is always working everything together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.”
The Paxtons’ divorce not only reshapes a political partnership but adds another layer of drama to the Texas political landscape, which rarely lacks for headlines.
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