“Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds,” she wrote 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.”
Ken Paxton suggested “political attacks” and “public scrutiny” motivated their divorce in a statement on social media.
“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. I ask for your prayers and privacy at this time.”’
Paxton was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas state House, but ultimately acquitted by the state Senate in 2023. An alleged extramarital affair by Paxton and related bribery allegations were part of the trial. Paxton was also indicted in 2015 on state securities fraud charges, but agreed to a deal with prosecutors last year that saw the charges dropped.
Despite his past controversies, early polls indicate Paxton leads in the primary over Cornyn, who has served in the Senate for 22 years.
Cornyn told reporters on Capitol Hill that he feels “badly” for Angela Paxton and called the divorce a “private matter.”
“There’s plenty of other reasons that I could comment on in terms of character, but I’ll probably just leave that alone,” he said.
Paxton has been a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, and has regularly used his position to advance Trump’s political agenda or block actions taken by former President Joe Biden. Following the 2020 election, Paxton led an effort to force the Supreme Court to invalidate the election’s results in four battleground states, which was dismissed by the court.
The Cornyn campaign declined to comment. But the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has endorsed Cornyn in the primary, disparaged Paxton for what he “put his family through.”
“What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting,” NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said on X. “No one should have to endure what Angela Paxton has, and we pray for her as she chooses to stand up for herself and her family during this difficult time.”
Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.
