Ken Paxton

Ken Paxton

Republican

Ken Paxton is the Republican attorney general of Texas and a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026. His campaign presents him as a Trump-aligned conservative focused on border security, tax cuts, gun rights, and opposition to what it calls the Washington establishment.

Positions on Key Issues

Healthcare

high

Paxton says he supports lowering healthcare costs through market-based reforms, including price transparency, lower drug prices, and reduced premiums. His campaign frames his approach as reforming Obamacare rather than expanding government coverage.

Abortion & Reproductive Health

high

Paxton is strongly anti-abortion and says he will defend the unborn and oppose what he calls pro-abortion policies. As Texas attorney general, he has also backed Texas abortion restrictions and related litigation.

Economy

high

Paxton says he is a fiscal conservative who would cut taxes, reduce regulations, and oppose what he calls wasteful federal spending. His campaign also says he would support President Trump's economic agenda, including efforts to boost manufacturing and lower costs.

Education

high

Paxton says he opposes what he calls woke indoctrination in classrooms and supports parental rights, traditional values, and restrictions on transgender policies in schools. His campaign also links education policy to opposition to DEI-style programs and progressive school policies.

Climate/Energy

high

Paxton's campaign emphasizes expanding American energy production and rolling back regulations it says hurt Texas energy companies. The campaign page frames energy policy around opposing Biden-era restrictions and supporting Texas oil and gas interests rather than a detailed climate agenda.

Tech & AI

medium

Paxton's campaign says he supports crypto innovation and a pro-growth regulatory framework for digital assets. Beyond that, the public materials reviewed emphasize restricting foreign-linked technology and protecting critical infrastructure rather than a broader AI agenda.

Immigration

high

Paxton supports aggressive immigration enforcement, including finishing the border wall, deporting undocumented immigrants, and opposing sanctuary-city policies. His campaign says he would continue the border-focused legal and policy fights he pursued as Texas attorney general.

Foreign Policy

high

Paxton says he supports an America First foreign policy that prioritizes U.S. interests, peace through strength, and border security. His campaign also emphasizes opposition to sending what it calls blank checks abroad.

Firearms & Second Amendment

high

Paxton says he will protect Second Amendment rights and opposes what his campaign describes as attacks on gun rights from Democrats and some Republicans. He has also received support from gun-rights groups, including Gun Owners of America.

Civil Rights & Equality

medium

Paxton has not published a detailed social-justice platform on his campaign site. His public messaging instead emphasizes opposition to progressive policies, including transgender policies in schools and what he calls woke indoctrination.

Election Policy

high

Paxton says he has fought for election integrity and supports stricter voter rules, including documentary proof of citizenship and photo ID requirements. His campaign presents election integrity as a central issue in his Senate bid.

Local Issues

high

Paxton says he will push back on local policies he believes conflict with state law or border enforcement priorities, including Houston's ordinance limiting coordination between city police and ICE. His campaign frames this as part of a broader fight against local resistance to state and federal immigration enforcement.

Background

Career History

Attorney General 2015 – Present
State of Texas

Serves as Texas attorney general.

Texas State Senator 2013 – 2015
Texas Senate

Represented Senate District 8 before becoming attorney general.

State Representative 2003 – 2013
Texas House of Representatives

Served in the Texas House before election to the state Senate.

Education

Baylor University B.A. in political science (1985)
University of Virginia School of Law J.D. in law (1991)

Top Donors

OpenSecrets reports Paxton raised $9,997,872 from 9,185 donors in 2022, with top industries led by non-contribution entries, leadership PACs ($950K), oil & gas ($418,650), misc. services ($250K), and real estate ($178K). The top contributor list also includes a large $950K contribution from Defend Texas Liberty and $1.12M in self-contributions, showing a mix of ideological PAC money, energy-sector support, and substantial self-funding.

View full campaign finance data →

Voting Record

Paxton is not a legislator in the current race; he is Texas attorney general, so there is no legislative voting record to report. Comparable public record comes from his executive office and campaign messaging, where he emphasizes border security, election integrity, and aggressive litigation against federal policy; Ballotpedia notes he previously served in the Texas Senate before becoming attorney general.

View full voting record →

Data Analysis Information

Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 4/29/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.

© 2026 Smarter.vote. Analyzing public information to help voters make informed decisions.

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