Ken Paxton

Paxton’s political career, which includes a decade in the state House of Representatives and a decade as Texas Attorney General, has seen its fair share of controversy, the majority of which tracks to real estate. 

Paxton survived a 2023 impeachment trial over allegations that he misused his office to aid wayward developer Nate Paul, who faced FBI scrutiny for allegedly falsifying loan information. He also faced scrutiny over personal real estate dealings alongside his estranged wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton. The couple is accused of misclassifying properties as their primary residence to obtain lower mortgage rates, which critics say constitutes fraud. His office invited scrutiny of plans for a master-planned community anchored by a mosque in Dallas-Fort Worth. Paxton sued Community Capital Partners, the developer behind the project, now known as The Meadow, claiming it violated the Texas Securities Act. In the lawsuit, Paxton claimed a Texas State Securities Board commissioner asked him to sue the developer. The commissioner refuted the claims. 

A Trump loyalist, Paxton is challenging three-term incumbent John Cornyn for his U.S. Senate seat. His run against Cornyn and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt in the Republican primary in March will offer an indicator on whether he has political legs.

— Jess Hardin