Texas judge orders Attorney General Ken Paxton's divorce records unsealed amid heated Senate primary

McKINNEY, Texas — Court documents detailing the divorce of Republican U.S. Senate candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, were released Friday by order of a judge, months after she filed citing ''biblical grounds.''

The initial batch of documents showed that Angela Paxton sought the divorce on the grounds that Ken Paxton had committed adultery, but included no additional details. She had previously referenced ''recent discoveries'' when announcing the filing on social media in July. In a separate filing, Ken Paxton denied the allegations in the divorce petition. More records could still be released under an agreement between the Paxtons and a coalition of media outlets to make the documents public.

''It's a victory, I think, for the American public and for the Texas voters,'' Tyler Bexley, an attorney for the media intervenors, told reporters after the judge ordered the documents unsealed.

The divorce and the surrounding speculation have only fueled attacks against Paxton in one of the nation's most heated Republican primaries as he seeks to unseat Sen. John Cornyn. Whether the divorce details resonate with voters remains to be seen, with the Senate primary set for March 3 next year. Despite years of controversy, the three-term attorney general has remained competitive in the race, which includes Rep. Wesley Hunt.

The divorce comes after 38 years of marriage, during which Angela Paxton had supported her husband through a series of legal troubles, including state and federal corruption investigations. A state securities fraud indictment against Ken Paxton was dismissed after a 2024 plea deal in which he agreed to pay restitution and complete community service, and the Justice Department dropped a federal corruption probe earlier this year.

Angela Paxton also stood by Ken Paxton's side during that impeachment trial, which publicly exposed his extramarital affair. The 2023 impeachment trial ended in an acquittal for him.

Paxton's support in Texas has remained strong amid a decade of legal troubles. He won reelection in 2022 by nearly 10 percentage points.

Groups supporting Cornyn have spent more than $21 million on television ads this year, according to AdImpact, to promote the four-term senator and attack Paxton.

''What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting,'' National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said in July. ''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.''

Paxton has been a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, while Cornyn has at times drawn criticism within his own party for working with Democrats. Trump's endorsement is expected to be a decisive factor in Texas, which he won in 2024 by nearly 14 percentage points. Trump has not yet endorsed in the race.

Judge Robert Brotherton approved the agreement on Friday to release the records, which had been originally sealed at the Paxtons' request shortly after Angela Paxton filed. Media outlets sued to have them released.

''If there's new information that hasn't been released publicly yet, we certainly think the voters have the right to know that when they are making decisions in the upcoming elections,'' Bexley said Friday.