Angela Paxton urges voters to back Republican ticket without naming Ken Paxton
In short
Angela Paxton, a Texas state senator and the estranged wife of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, appeared in an ad released Saturday saying she is “voting for the Republican ticket on Nov. 3” without naming her husband. She told voters to “talk about the elephant in the room” and argued the election is about “getting the whole team across the finish line.” Her office did not immediately say whether she plans to vote for Ken Paxton herself, as recent polls show him in a close race with Democrat James Talarico.
Read the full story 2 min read
Angela Paxton, a Texas state senator and the estranged wife of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, appeared in an ad released Saturday urging voters to support the Republican ticket on Nov. 3 without naming her husband, according to NBC News, Fox News and Newsweek. In the ad she says, “Let’s talk about the elephant in the room,” and adds, “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.” [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The ad continues, “Either we hold every Republican seat, or we hand the future of Texas to the other team,” and, “That’s why I’m voting for the Republican ticket on Nov. 3.” Fox News reported that the ad does not mention Ken Paxton by name. NBC News reported that Angela Paxton’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether she plans to vote for her estranged husband herself. [ 2 , 3 ]
Angela Paxton filed for divorce from Ken Paxton last year citing “biblical grounds,” NBC News and Fox News reported. Fox News said she had previously framed the issue in similar terms during a September address to the Texas Federation of Republican Women, telling the audience “it’s not the people, it’s the seat.” [ 2 , 3 ]
Polls cited by the outlets differ. NBC News cited an NBC5 Dallas/Telemundo Station Group poll in late September showing Talarico at 46% and Paxton at 43%. A Fox News Poll released Thursday put Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 49%, a difference within the poll’s margin of sampling error. Newsweek cited a New York Times/Siena survey showing Talarico ahead by six percentage points. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Ken Paxton’s tenure as attorney general has been beset by allegations of abuse of office and bribery, NBC News reported. He was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023 and later acquitted by the state Senate, and he has denied any wrongdoing. Newsweek said he enters the race carrying years of political controversies that opponents continue to highlight. [ 2 , 4 ]
Ken Paxton’s daughter, Mattie Hayworth, has also appeared in a separate ad for her father alongside her husband and children, criticising “liberal politicians” as a graphic showed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Paxton’s Democratic opponent, James Talarico, according to NBC News. Newsweek also noted her ad. Newsweek said it reached out to Ken Paxton by email for comment on Sunday. [ 2 , 4 ]
Texas Republicans have not lost a statewide race since 1994 and Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate seat since 1988, NBC News reported. Newsweek said the race could have national implications for Senate control, and Fox News cited its poll finding that 50% of likely voters preferred Republican control of the U.S. Senate against 49% who preferred Democratic control. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The ad comes weeks before Election Day in a Texas Senate race that polls describe as close, in a state where Republicans have not lost a statewide race since 1994 and Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate seat since 1988. Newsweek said the contest could have national implications for Senate control, and a Fox News poll found 50% of likely voters preferred Republican control of the Senate against 49% who preferred Democratic control.
Key facts
- Angela Paxton, a Texas state senator, appeared in an ad released Saturday urging voters to support the Republican ticket on Nov. 3. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The ad does not mention her estranged husband, Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, by name. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- In the ad she says, “Let’s talk about the elephant in the room,” and argues “it’s not as much about the individual players on the team; it’s about getting the whole team across the finish line.” [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Angela Paxton filed for divorce from Ken Paxton last year citing “biblical grounds.” [ 2 , 3 ]
- Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 and later acquitted by the state Senate, and has denied wrongdoing. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Recent polls cited by the outlets differ: an NBC5 Dallas/Telemundo poll showed Talarico at 46% and Paxton at 43%, a Fox News Poll showed Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 49% within the margin of sampling error, and a New York Times/Siena survey showed Talarico ahead by six points. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ken Paxton’s daughter, Mattie Hayworth, appeared in a separate ad for her father criticizing “liberal politicians.” [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Angela Paxton’s ad urges voters to support the Republican ticket on Nov. 3 without naming Ken Paxton. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Angela Paxton filed for divorce from Ken Paxton last year citing “biblical grounds.” [ 2 , 3 ]
- Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico in the Texas Senate race. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 and acquitted by the Texas Senate. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Angela Paxton plans to vote for Ken Paxton herself NBC News reported that her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the question, and the ad does not name him.
- How the ad should be characterised She did not name Ken Paxton, while Fox News framed it as her confirming who she is voting for and Newsweek called it perhaps her clearest public signal yet that she wants Republicans to rally behind his candidacy.
- Whether Ken Paxton responded to requests for comment Newsweek said it reached out to him by email for comment on Sunday; the documents do not report a response.
- The exact standing of the race The documents cite three different polls with different margins and dates, including a late-September NBC5 Dallas/Telemundo poll, a Fox News Poll released Thursday and a New York Times/Siena survey, and do not reconcile them.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- NBC News reports that Angela Paxton’s ad urging voters to back the Republican ticket on Nov. 3 was released Saturday, and that her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether she plans to vote for her estranged husband. [ 2 ]
- Fox News reports that Angela Paxton says she will vote Republican in November without naming Ken Paxton, and cites its poll showing Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 49%. [ 3 ]
- Newsweek reports on the ad, notes that Ken Paxton trails Talarico in several recent polls and says it reached out to Ken Paxton for comment. [ 4 ]