Politics
Paxton Divorce Finalized After 38-Year Marriage, Months After Senate Loss
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and State Sen. Angela Paxton have finalized their divorce, which she filed for in summer 2025 citing 'biblical grounds' after 38 years of marriage. The split comes after his acquittal in an impeachment trial, a failed U.S. Senate bid, and her separate campaign urging voters to back the GOP ticket without naming him.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and State Sen. Angela Paxton have finalized their divorce, his lawyer confirmed Thursday, closing a chapter that began when she filed during the summer of 2025 after 38 years of marriage.
Angela Paxton's filing cited "biblical grounds" and stated the couple had not lived together since June 1, 2024. Court documents claimed the outgoing attorney general was at fault for the breakup, committed adultery, may have benefited from her remaining in the marriage, and has greater earning power than she does.
The divorce petition arrived at a turbulent moment in Ken Paxton's political career. It followed his acquittal in a Texas Senate impeachment trial and came as he launched a campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. He went on to defeat incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary runoff, but lost the general election to Democrat James Talarico â a result that marked a significant flip for Democrats in Texas.
About a month before the midterm election, Angela Paxton appeared in a campaign ad urging voters to support the Republican ticket. She did not mention her estranged husband by name in the spot.
The finalization of the divorce closes a personal and political saga that unfolded in public view, intertwining the couple's 38-year marriage with some of the most consequential races and controversies in recent Texas politics. Ken Paxton's lawyer confirmed the divorce's completion to the Associated Press on Thursday.