Angela Paxton, the estranged wife of Texas GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton, has released a new ad advocating for voters to support the Republican ticket. This comes despite her ongoing divorce from her husband. She emphasized the importance of maintaining Republican-held seats over individual candidate issues, without directly naming Ken Paxton.
The announcement surfaces as recent surveys, including a New York Times/Siena poll, show Democratic nominee James Talarico leading Paxton by six percentage points. Ken Paxton has faced significant political controversies, having been impeached by the Texas House in 2023, but later acquitted by the Texas Senate. Despite controversies, Angela Paxton urges the focus on Republican unity.
Angela Paxton stated, “Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. In a general election, it’s not as much about the individual players on the team. It’s about getting the whole team across the finish line.” She continued, “Either we hold every Republican seat or we hand the future of Texas to the other team.”
Who Is Angela Paxton?
Angela Paxton is a Republican state senator from North Texas, representing an area around McKinney. Before her political career, she worked in education as a teacher and counselor. She was elected to the Texas Senate in 2018, focusing on education, faith, and conservative issues. Angela and Ken Paxton met in college at Baylor University, married in 1986, and have since pursued parallel political careers. An announcement in July 2025 revealed her decision to file for divorce on “biblical grounds” amidst adultery allegations.
Angela Paxton shared, “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.”
Race Tightens as Polls Show Talarico Ahead
Angela Paxton’s message arrives as her husband’s campaign faces challenges. Recent polls indicate James Talarico holds a narrow lead. The RealClearPolling average and the New York Times/Siena survey evidence this lead. National Republican groups have increased funding in response to concerns over the race’s competitiveness, given Texas’s historical Republican dominance.
Angela Paxton’s Appeal to Republican Women
Her advertisement builds on a September speech to the Texas Federation of Republican Women. Addressing a moral dilemma faced by conservatives, she underscored the importance of maintaining party control despite individual candidate issues.
Angela Paxton stated, “It’s not the people, it’s the seat.” Her argument stressed considering the long-term impact of losing offices to Democrats. Her husband’s name remained unmentioned during this speech.
Who Is Mattie Hayworth?
Mattie Hayworth, daughter of Ken and Angela Paxton, participates in the campaign through an ad defending her father and criticizing Democratic policies. The ad features Hayworth with her partner and children, highlighting family voices in response to ongoing scrutiny of Ken Paxton’s controversies. Hayworth also engaged in a campaign Q&A discussing the race’s stakes and her father’s record. The Paxtons have other children: Tucker, Abby, and Katie, according to Ken Paxton’s biography.
Scandals Continue to Shape the Contest
Ken Paxton’s political journey involves numerous allegations and controversies. He faced impeachment by the Texas House in 2023 on bribery and abuse allegations but was acquitted by the Texas Senate. Despite such issues, he overcame significant opposition, including a victory over John Cornyn in the Republican primary.
With current polls indicating a more competitive race than anticipated, both Angela Paxton and their daughter are working to galvanize Republican voters to stay committed to the GOP ticket.