Ken Paxton: Wife, children, net worth, allegations and controversies as he faces James Talarico in Texas Senate race

Ken Paxton has faced years of political battles, investigations and controversy. Now, the Texas attorney general is heading into another major fight, this time for a US Senate seat.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico in the US Senate race. (Bloomberg)Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico in one of the closely watched Senate races in the country. Talarico defeated Representative Jasmine Crockett in a costly and closely fought Democratic primary.

Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican Senate primary in May 2026.

Cornyn and his allies spent more than $90 million on advertising. The race went to a runoff. President Donald Trump then endorsed Paxton, and Paxton won the runoff decisively.

Forbes says Paxton has built his political image around MAGA causes. He has described himself as a “loyal supporter of President Trump.”

As per People, Paxton married Angela Paxton in 1986. They met at Baylor University in Texas. Ken was student body president and earned a psychology degree. Angela earned a degree in mathematics and computer science. She worked as a public school teacher and educator from 1991 to 2017, per her LinkedIn profile.

Angela was elected to the Texas Senate in November 2018 and took office in January 2019. She represents District 8, per her official bio. As per NBC News, she was barred from voting in her husband's 2023 impeachment trial.

In July 2025, Angela filed for divorce after 38 years of marriage. She wrote on X, "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.”

She accused Ken of adultery in a divorce filing obtained by KUT and The New York Times. The document also showed the couple had not lived together since June 2024. He wrote on X that he and Angela "decided to start a new chapter" in their lives “after facing pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny.”

Ken and Angela have four adult children: Tucker, Abby, Mattie and Katie. They also have several grandchildren. According to People, Mattie has four children with her husband, including twins born in September 2024.

In November 2020, Angela shared on Facebook that Abby was a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

According to Forbes, Paxton is worth roughly $13 million. His wealth is spread across real estate in five states, several million dollars in mutual funds, and a valuable state pension.

Forbes adds that some of his assets are in a blind trust. He and his wife are beneficiaries of it. So, as per Forbes, his financial position could be larger than the current estimates.

Paxton has spent much of his career under investigation or in scandal. But he has never been convicted.

Talarico promised at a rally in Houston to "prosecute the case" against Paxton. He called him "the most corrupt politician in America."

Khushi Arora is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she writes for the US Desk, covering everything happening in the United States, while maintaining quality and delivering impactful stories across all beats. She previously worked at Zee News for over a year where she explored multiple beats including News Desk, Education and Lifestyle. With a background in English Literature, Khushi blends sharp research with thoughtful storytelling, shaping stories that go beyond headlines and bring clarity and credibility to every piece she writes. Beyond the newsroom, she enjoys reading, watching cinema and loves having long conversations about books, films and everything in between.Read More