Austin: State Senator Angela Paxton has filed for divorce from her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ending a 39-year marriage that has intertwined personal faith, public office, and political scandal.
In a court petition filed Thursday in Collin County, Angela Paxton accused the attorney general of adultery and stated that the couple had ceased living together in June 2024. The filing follows years of controversy surrounding Ken Paxton, including a high-profile impeachment trial and longstanding allegations of extramarital affairs.
Angela Paxton, a Republican representing North Texas, announced the divorce publicly via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), citing “biblical grounds” for her decision. “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.”
Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds.
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…
— Senator Angela Paxton (@AngelaPaxtonTX) July 10, 2025
Minutes later, Ken Paxton posted his own statement on X, 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 ask for your prayers and privacy at this time.”
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 could not be any more proud or grateful for the incredible family that God has blessed us with, and I remain committed to supporting…
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) July 10, 2025
Paxton Divorce Filing Follows Turbulent Political Timeline
Ken Paxton, who has served as Texas attorney general since 2015, is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat held by fellow Republican John Cornyn. The divorce news comes amid what is expected to be a heated GOP primary battle.
According to court records, Angela Paxton’s petition states the marriage had become “insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities” and that no reconciliation was likely. The filing marks a sharp personal turn in a political partnership that once saw the couple campaign together across Texas, with Angela famously singing a self-written jingle: “I’m a pistol packin’ mama and my husband sues Obama.”
Ken Paxton’s political career has been marked by persistent legal and ethical questions. In 2023, he was impeached by the Texas House but later acquitted by the Senate after a nearly two-week trial. Allegations during the proceedings included abuse of office and aiding a political donor, as well as securing a job for a woman he was allegedly having an affair with. The woman, Laura Olson, was expected to testify during the trial but ultimately did not speak publicly.
Angela Paxton, who attended the trial, was barred from participating in deliberations or voting due to her personal ties.
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Divorce Could Undermine Ken Paxton’s Senate Campaign
The divorce filing may have political ramifications for Ken Paxton’s Senate ambitions. Senator John Cornyn has publicly questioned Paxton’s ethics in the past, and the divorce—especially with adultery cited—could reinforce those concerns among Republican voters.
Paxton has previously survived multiple scandals at the ballot box, including reelection amid pending securities fraud charges and a federal investigation into corruption allegations made by his former aides. While Paxton avoided trial through a deferred prosecution agreement last year, critics argue his legal history continues to undermine public trust.
Political observers suggest the divorce may also complicate Paxton’s efforts to secure the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, who has so far remained silent in the Cornyn-Paxton primary.
A Long-Standing Conservative Power Couple Splits
The Paxtons were married in 1986 and have four adult children and five grandchildren. Angela Paxton, a former school counselor, was elected to the state Senate in 2019 and has focused on education policy. She currently represents Collin, Hunt, and Rains counties.
Once seen as a model conservative couple, their personal and professional split signals a dramatic shift in Texas Republican politics, where faith and family values are central to many campaigns.
