Texas state Rep. Angela Paxton urged a group of conservative women to vote Republican “even if we’re mad at them,” marking the first time she has publicly weighed in on her estranged husband’s Senate race as he trails in the polls.
Angela Paxton filed for divorce from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in July 2025 “on biblical grounds,” accusing him of adultery. She has largely stayed quiet about his Senate bid, which has divided Texas Republicans.
Speaking at a Texas Federation of Republican Women meeting, Paxton told the group that when casting their ballots, they should keep in mind that “the party comes with the person.”
“Because we have more control over that seat and the future when we control the seat, when it’s still in the family, even if we’re mad at it,” she said.
“But if we lose it to the other team, the nuances that we want to fix with maybe a certain candidate are nothing compared to what it’s going to take to get it back, right?” she continued.
Paxton added that there are consequences when Republicans break from the party.
“They’re not like a stand-alone thing, like a menu item. We have more control when it’s our party,” she said of Democratic candidates. “We have more ability than influence, and that person is attached to our party.”
Her remarks stand out given her silence during the primary season. In May, Paxton encouraged Texas voters to turn out on primary election day in a social media post, but she notably made no mention of her former husband’s race.
The Texas Senate contest is shaping up to be one of the most expensive races in the nation. Democratic candidate James Talarico holds a narrow lead over Ken Paxton in recent polling, and GOP groups have begun pouring money into the race, which is critical to Republican hopes of holding onto control of the Senate.
A recent poll showed Talarico with 46 percent support compared to 43 percent for Paxton.
Ken Paxton, who defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP Senate primary, enters the general election carrying significant baggage. The attorney general has been dogged by scandal, including an impeachment by the Texas state House on corruption charges. He was later acquitted in the state Senate.
Those controversies have prompted some former aides and attorneys who once worked for him to back Talarico. Among them is Dan Cogdell, who helped lead Ken Paxton’s defense during his impeachment trial.
Neither Ken Paxton’s campaign nor Angela Paxton’s office immediately responded to a request for comment.
Angela Paxton’s message to the Republican women’s group appeared aimed at a simple goal: keeping the seat in GOP hands. While she did not mention her estranged husband by name in the remarks, her argument that voters should stick with the party even when frustrated with a particular candidate comes as Republicans look to shore up support in a race that has become unexpectedly competitive.
With Talarico holding a slim edge and national GOP groups ramping up spending, the Lone Star State’s Senate race has become a key battleground in the fight for control of the upper chamber.
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