Ken Paxton age is 63, and the American politician and lawyer became one of the most searched names in Australia on November 4, 2026, after losing the November 2026 United States Senate election in Texas to James Talarico. Paxton has served as the 51st Attorney General of Texas since 2015 and was the Republican nominee in the 2026 Texas Senate race, after defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff in May 2026.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. |
| Age | 63 years old |
| Born | December 23, 1962, Minot, North Dakota, USA |
| Occupation | Politician; lawyer |
| Party | Republican |
| Known For | 51st Attorney General of Texas since 2015; 2026 Republican Senate nominee in Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Baylor University (BA, MBA); University of Virginia (JD) |
| Spouse | Angela Allen (married 1986; separated 2024) |
Who Is Ken Paxton?
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the 51st Attorney General of Texas since January 5, 2015. Before that, he served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013 and in the Texas Senate from 2013 to 2015. He won election as attorney general in 2014 and was reelected in 2018 and 2022. In 2026, he ran for the United States Senate in Texas, defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff, and lost the general election to Democrat James Talarico.
Early Life & Background
Paxton was born Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. on December 23, 1962, on Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where his father was stationed in the United States Air Force. His parents and their three children lived in a trailer parked outside wherever his father was temporarily stationed, and the family lived in Florida, New York, North Carolina, California, and Oklahoma. He graduated from MacArthur High School in Lawton, Oklahoma.
He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1985 and a Master of Business Administration in 1986, both from Baylor University, where he was elected president of the student government. In 1991, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. After graduating from law school, he worked at the law firm of Strasburger & Price and as in-house counsel for JCPenney. In 2002, he opened his own law practice, specializing in estate planning, probate matters, and real estate.
Career
In 2002, Paxton ran in the Republican primary for the Texas House in District 70 and won the general election on November 4, 2002. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013, winning reelection in 2004, 2006, and 2008 and running unopposed in 2010. After winning the 2012 election, he replaced the retiring Florence Shapiro in the Texas Senate, serving from January 2013 until January 2015, when his term as attorney general began.
Paxton became a candidate for Texas attorney general when incumbent Greg Abbott decided to run for governor. He led a three-candidate field in the Republican primary on March 4, 2014, won the runoff on May 27, 2014, and defeated Democrat Sam Houston in the November 4, 2014, general election. He took office on January 5, 2015, won a second term in 2018, and won a third term in 2022. In 2015, he was indicted on state securities fraud charges relating to activities before taking office; the charges were dismissed years later without any requirement to admit wrongdoing, with the case dismissed on June 18, 2025, after completion of an agreement reached in March 2024.
In 2023, Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives and suspended from office from May 27, 2023, to September 16, 2023. The Texas Senate voted later in 2023 to acquit Paxton of all articles of impeachment, and he resumed his duties as attorney general. On April 8, 2025, Paxton announced his candidacy for the United States Senate on Fox News, challenging incumbent Senator John Cornyn. He advanced to a runoff against Cornyn after neither received 50 percent of the vote in the March 3, 2026, primary, and on May 26, 2026, having secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement, he defeated Cornyn by more than 25 points. He was beaten by James Talarico in the November general election, the first Republican Senate loss in Texas since 1988.
Facts About Ken Paxton
- He was born on Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where his father was stationed in the United States Air Force.
- He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1985 and an MBA in 1986 from Baylor University, and a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1991.
- He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013 and in the Texas Senate from 2013 to 2015.
- He has served as the 51st Attorney General of Texas since January 5, 2015, winning election in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
- In 2026, he defeated John Cornyn in the Republican Senate primary runoff and lost the general election to James Talarico.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Ken Paxton?
Ken Paxton is 63 years old. He was born on December 23, 1962, in Minot, North Dakota.
What is Ken Paxton known for?
Ken Paxton is known as the 51st Attorney General of Texas, a post he has held since 2015, and as the Republican nominee in the 2026 United States Senate election in Texas.
When did Ken Paxton become Attorney General of Texas?
Ken Paxton took office as Attorney General of Texas on January 5, 2015, after winning the 2014 election.
What happened in Ken Paxton’s 2026 Senate race?
Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff on May 26, 2026, and lost the November general election to Democrat James Talarico.
Was Ken Paxton impeached?
Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives in May 2023 and was acquitted by the Texas Senate in September 2023, after which he resumed his duties as attorney general.