Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faced a direct personal question during a town hall call on Monday, according to Mediaite. In the Monday town hall, video from one Instagram user shows a caller on the line told him, “Nice to meet you,” before asking, “I’m just wondering – why did you cheat on your wife?”
Paxton is running for U.S. Senate against Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat. Paxton has President Donald Trump‘s endorsement, which he received instead of longtime Sen. John Cornyn. Even with that support, his campaign has dealt with several controversies, including claims of voter fraud and questions about a plea deal his office made with a man accused of child sex abuse. His marriage has also become a public issue during the campaign.
Paxton declined to discuss his marriage on the call
Responding to the caller’s question, Paxton said, “Um, I’m not gonna talk about personal issues that relate to my family, just like I don’t think you would wanna discuss your marriage on a call with thousands of people.” He then added, “All I can tell you is that I’m proud of my kids. I’ve got four wonderful kids. I’ve got seven grandchildren – well, six and one on the way. There’s a lot at stake, and so while I care about this country, I’m not gonna talk about things that would affect them, so thank you very much for your question.”
According to The Independent, Paxton’s wife, Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce last year. Court filings said the divorce was sought “on biblical grounds” and cited adultery. The case was later removed from the trial docket as the couple worked on a settlement. Allegations of an extramarital affair were among the reasons for his impeachment, a situation that can involve complex personal struggles, as RFK Jr.’s secret diary details.
Paxton has also faced questions about photos showing him traveling in Europe with Christian influencer Tracy Duhon. Reports have suggested the two have been romantically involved since 2024. Political sparring over personal allegations is not unique to this race, as Trump reportedly called Rep. Max Miller amid abuse claims from his ex-wife.
The Monday town hall was not the only time Paxton has faced questions about his personal life in public. At a campaign event on Saturday at The Angry Elephant in San Antonio, hecklers interrupted his speech. One person shouted, “You cheated on your wife!” after Paxton criticized Talarico’s Christian beliefs.
Two other hecklers were removed from that event after shouting, “Paxton protects pedophiles,” according to TownHall editor Joe Chalfant. That comment referred to a plea deal Paxton’s office made with a Waco-based lawyer accused of sexually abusing a boy over several years. The lawyer reportedly served less than a month in jail, and critics have said Paxton’s office was too lenient in the case.
Paxton’s divorce filing has also drawn attention to his finances. Court proceedings brought up his real estate holdings, reportedly worth about $9 million. These reportedly include a cabin in Oklahoma, three homes in Florida, land in Hawaii, and three condominiums in Utah. When asked about this real estate portfolio after Saturday’s rally, Paxton did not answer, according to San Antonio Current reporter Michael Karlis.
Paxton was impeached by the Texas legislature in 2023 over allegations of bribery and abuse of public trust. Former staffers accused him of using his office to benefit himself and a Texas real estate investor. During that impeachment trial, he also faced allegations of having an extramarital affair. Texas lawmakers later acquitted him.
A spokesperson for Paxton’s campaign has defended his handling of the child sex abuse case. The spokesperson told The New York Times that the victim did not want to testify and that an earlier trial had ended in a hung jury. The spokesperson also said Talarico was using the victim as a “political pawn.”
Talarico, a progressive Democrat, currently holds a narrow lead over Paxton in most public polling, though some polls show the race tied.
Published: Aug 12, 2026 07:11 am