politics
Ken Paxton Brings Scandal History to Texas Senate Race
Ken Paxton, Texas's attorney general and the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, is running for higher office while trailing in polls despite President Donald Trump's endorsement, according to The Guardian.
The 63-year-old has built a career that survives controversy rather than avoids it. He has weathered state securities-fraud charges, which he settled without admitting guilt, and an impeachment trial in the Texas legislature on abuse-of-office allegations. Republican lawmakers who controlled that chamber ultimately acquitted him.
What scandals has he faced in office?
The list, as detailed by the Guardian, is long and varied. In 2013, he was accused of taking a fellow lawyer's $1,000 Montblanc pen; he said it was a mix-up during courthouse security screening. In 2020, eight of his own staffers asked the FBI to investigate whether he had misused his office. One episode traces back to 2011, when a tech entrepreneur said he was told by God, in a Dairy Queen in McKinney, Texas, to give 100,000 shares of company stock to Paxton, then a state legislator. Critics called the transfer an illegal commission; both men denied the characterization.
How did he survive impeachment?
The Texas House, controlled by his own party, impeached him on abuse-of-office charges. The state Senate acquitted him, allowing him to keep his post as attorney general. That outcome, paired with the earlier securities settlement, has let him continue in public life without the convictions that typically end political careers.
Why is Trump backing him anyway?
Trump endorsed Paxton for the Senate seat despite the baggage. At a recent rally, the president told supporters Paxton "may not dress right, he may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I've ever seen" — while still urging them to vote for him, the Guardian reported. The remark captured what the outlet called his standing with hardcore Trump loyalists versus the broader electorate's skepticism.
What do the polls show?
The Guardian describes him as struggling in surveys ahead of the general election, a position the outlet frames as either predictable, given the accumulated scandals, or notable that he isn't polling worse. He remains, in the paper's words, a political survivor capable of frustrating Democratic hopes in the race.
What happens next in the campaign?
What to watch as the Texas Senate contest moves toward the midterms:
- Whether Trump campaigns in person for the nominee or limits support to endorsements and remarks.
- How Democratic opponents frame the scandal history in ads and debates.
- Whether new polling narrows or widens the current gap before Election Day.
- Any fresh developments tied to past investigations, including the earlier FBI referral from his own staff.
The race is being watched nationally as a test of whether personal scandal history still carries electoral weight in a Trump-aligned Texas contest, per the Guardian's reporting.
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Questions
What scandals has Ken Paxton faced?
He settled state securities-fraud charges without admitting guilt, was impeached by the Texas House on abuse-of-office allegations (and acquitted by the state Senate), and faced separate controversies including a stock-gift dispute and an FBI referral from his own staff, according to The Guardian.
Did Ken Paxton get convicted after his impeachment trial?
No. The Texas Senate acquitted him of the abuse-of-office charges brought by the House, allowing him to remain attorney general, the Guardian reported.
Has Trump endorsed Ken Paxton for Senate?
Yes. Trump endorsed him for the Texas Senate seat, telling a rally crowd that Paxton 'may not dress right' or 'talk exactly perfectly' while still backing his candidacy, per the Guardian.