Texas Values Withdraws Support of Ken Paxton Over Divorce

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's (R) campaign for U.S. Senate suffered a major blow as Texas Values, a leading socially conservative group, publicly withdrew support following news that Paxton’s wife, State Senator Angela Paxton (R), filed for divorce citing adultery.

In her filing, state Senator Paxton stated the marriage no longer honored "God or [was] loving to myself, my children or Ken,” referencing “biblical grounds and recent discoveries.”

The couple had been married for 38 years.

"There's no question that adultery is an attack on marriage," Texas Values president Jonathan Saenz told The Washington Post, expressing dissatisfaction with Attorney General Paxton's response when pressed for clarity on the allegations.

The fallout continued as national Republicans weighed in on the issue.

“What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting,” said Joanna Rodriquez, the communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. She added, “No one should have to endure what Angela Paxton has.”

Texans for a Conservative Majority, a super PAC backing incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R), called the divorce filing a “tectonic shift” and launched TV ads bolstering Senator Cornyn’s support for President Donald Trump (R), countering Attorney General Paxton’s portrayal as the more loyal ally.

Senator Cornyn’s campaign initially remained silent on the issue, but it later released a digital ad stating the attorney general was “at it again,” and Senator Cornyn personally described his political rival as an “onion” of corruption: “Every time you peel back one layer, there’s something underneath.”

Despite the backlash, Attorney General Paxton’s campaign reportedly saw its second-best fundraising day after the divorce filing.

Rep. Troy Nehls (R) came to Attorney General Paxton’s defense, saying, “If a not-so-friendly divorce disqualifies a person to be a member of Congress, I don't think we could establish a quorum up here.”

Attorney General Paxton remains ahead of Senator Cornyn in most polls.

President Trump has yet to endorse a candidate, expressing disappointment they’re running against each other but saying he’ll “make a decision somewhere along the line.”