Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton (right), seen at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2021 with her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, on Thursday announced that she had filed for divorce after 38 years of marriage. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
"Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds," the state senator wrote in a social media post.
"I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation," she added. "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."
In his own statement, Ken Paxton said that "after facing the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny, Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter in our lives."
The attorney general added that "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."
TRUMP ALLY PAXTON LAUNCHES SENATE PRIMARY CHALLENGE IN TEXAS
Paxton, who first won election as Texas attorney general in 2014 and has been re-elected twice, was impeached a couple of years ago by the Texas House of Representatives on allegations of corruption, which included claims related to an extramarital affair. He was later acquitted by the state Senate.
A veteran Texas-based Republican strategist, when asked how the divorce bombshell will impact the Senate primary, said the key is whether there are more damaging revelations to come.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, seen at a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, on March 14, 2025, is running for re-election next year. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
"The people that are backing him with their public support, such as elected officials, or people who are backing him financially, are going to want answers very quickly, as in today, about what's the damage. Is this true? Do you deny it? What other issues may come up if your spouse is looking to tell their version of the truth," the consultant said.
And the consultant noted that what Paxton's wife says going forward will be crucial.
"State Sen. Angele Paxton had been by Ken's side for the entire saga over the last decade and up close and personal with all the issues he's been accused of. She's been front and center for it all."
While Cornyn's campaign didn't put out any statement regarding the divorce news, it did issue a release titled: "Ken Paxton's TERRIBLE week."
It included a social media post from Matt Schaeffer, a conservative former member of the state legislature who argued that "Paxton is morally unfit to hold office."
While Trump has stayed neutral in the primary so far, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) are backing Cornyn.
GOP Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas speaks during Day 1 of the Republican National Convention, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 15, 2024. Reuters/Mike Segar
There's a possibility another Republican could enter the Senate primary.
Three-term Rep. Wesley Hunt, a rising MAGA star who represents a Houston-area district, has been mulling a Senate run. Sources confirmed to Fox News earlier this year that Hunt had made his case to President Donald Trump’s political team that he's the only person who can win both a GOP primary and a general election.
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And on Friday, a Texas-based conservative strategist who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, told Fox News he believes "Hunt is still the only candidate in Texas that can win the primary and the general election."
A different consultant noted that "the possibility that Ken will exit the race changes the dynamics dramatically," and that "it absolutely does give Hunt something to think about."
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sacred-covenant-how-paxton-divorce-rocks-bruising-republican-senate-primary-texas