Trump Endorsed
Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
38.2%
32.1%
23.3%
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
$15.6M
MAY 27, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAttorney General
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age63 years old (Dec 23, 1962)
GenderMale
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LocationTexas
BackgroundAttorney
EducationBaylor University — B.A., Psychology (1985)
Notable personal detailsWarren Kenneth Paxton Jr. is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the 51st Attorney General of Texas since 2015. Before becoming attorney general, he served in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate. He earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.B.A. from Baylor University and later received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He has four children: Tucker, Abby, Mattie, and Katie.
SourcesShowHide
www2.texasattorneygeneral.govkenpaxton.comen.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgdirectory.texastribune.orgaxios.comtheatlantic.comwww5.texasattorneygeneral.govoag.state.tx.ustexasattorneygeneral.govlanacion.com.arcbsnews.comtexasborderbusiness.comstateagreport.comen.wikipedia-on-ipfs.orgde.wikipedia.orgnacogdoches.orgcityofhenderson.comtexastribune.orgksat.comwashingtonpost.combloomberg.comapnews.comfoxnews.comjustfacts.votesmart.orges.wikipedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgvotesmart.orgcommons.wikimedia.orgcreativecommons.orgupload.wikimedia.orgfec.govballotready.orgroy.house.govcruz.senate.govdurbin.senate.govcongress.govpadilla.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering or protecting taxes for households and businesses and favors passing corporate tax savings to consumers; has intervened to defend property tax cuts and opposed local actions that would raise property taxes. Policy actions emphasize tax relief and reduced tax burdens rather than expanding taxation or redistribution.
Healthcare
Opposes federal mandates expanding or compelling specific healthcare services and defends state control over Medicaid and parental access to children’s medical records; pursues legal action against federal HHS rules and policies he views as overreach. Supports enforcement actions against pharmaceutical companies and investigations of healthcare practices he deems deceptive or unsafe.
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Immigration & Border
Ken Paxton advocates aggressive enforcement-first border and immigration policies, including criminalizing illegal entry, supporting detention and removal of unauthorized immigrants, opposing DACA and sanctuary/local noncooperation, and suing NGOs and localities he alleges facilitate unlawful immigration. He has led legal actions and public campaigns to expand state enforcement authority and to block or reverse federal policies he views as permissive toward unauthorized migration.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Ken Paxton supports strict limits on abortion and has acted to defend and expand enforcement of Texas’s pro-life laws; he commemorated the overturning of Roe v. Wade and has sought to block or challenge policies and rulings that would expand abortion access or exceptions.
Climate & Energy
Ken Paxton has repeatedly challenged federal climate and green-energy regulations and taken legal action to protect fossil fuel production and exports. His office frames federal emissions rules, methane regulations, and renewable-focused grid mandates as unlawful federal overreach that threaten energy independence and economic interests. Paxton has also pursued litigation against financial firms and policies he says favor ‘green energy’ at the expense of traditional energy sources.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports broad Second Amendment protections, including constitutional/concealed-carry reciprocity and defending the right of licensed Texans to carry on public property; opposes local or federal firearm restrictions and has repeatedly sued or filed briefs to block firearm bans. Advocates policies to expand carry rights rather than new gun-control measures.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMar 14, 2026
Ken Paxton is headed to a May 26, 2026 Republican Senate runoff in Texas against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn after neither won a majority in the primary. New polling shows Paxton leading Cornyn 49% to 41%, with undecided voters still in play. The race is also being shaped by endorsement pressure, including a public endorsement of Paxton from Rep. Eric Burlison and ongoing speculation over whether Donald Trump will back Paxton or Cornyn.
www2.texasattorneygeneral.gov+40
Articles
UNU.S. News & World Report3 months ago
Should Trump Endorse Cornyn? Some Texas Republicans Say It Would Be a MAGA 'Mistake'
Neutral
FNFox News3 months ago
Rep Eric Burlison endorses Ken Paxton in heated GOP Senate primary runoff
Positive
NNewsweek3 months ago
Paxton vs Cornyn Texas Senate Chances With Trump Endorsement: New Poll
Positive
F4FOX 4 News3 months ago
Trump endorsement wouldn't be enough to bridge Cornyn’s gap with Paxton, new data shows
Positive
Polls
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Endorsers of Ken Paxton for Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Donald Trump
Public figure
Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton for the Texas Senate Republican primary.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$7.6M
$5.7M
$3.8M
$1.9M
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$7.6M
$2.3M
$5.3M
$309.3K
Source: FEC