Ken Paxton
2023 - Present
2027
0
Ken Paxton (Republican Party) is the Attorney General of Texas. He assumed office on September 18, 2023. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.
Paxton (Republican Party) ran for re-election for Attorney General of Texas. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
On September 16, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton on 16 articles of impeachment, and he resumed serving as attorney general on September 18, 2023.[1][2] The Senate also voted to dismiss the four other article of impeachments that had been held in abeyance at the start of the trial.[3] Paxton had been suspended from his position as attorney general after the Texas House of Representatives voted to impeach him on May 27, 2023. Click here for more information.
Paxton assumed office in 2015 and was re-elected in 2022. He succeeded Greg Abbott (R), who served as attorney general from 2002 until 2015, when he was sworn in as governor of Texas.
Prior to becoming attorney general of Texas, Paxton served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 70 from 2003 to 2013.[4][5] He was a Republican member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 8 from 2013 to 2015. Paxton did not seek re-election to the Texas State Senate in 2014, instead opting to run for attorney general of Texas.[4][5]
Biography
Paxton received a B.A. and M.B.A. from Baylor University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School.[4] His professional experience includes working as an attorney. Paxton worked for Strasburger and Price, L.L.P., been a management consultant with Arthur Andersen, and was in-house legal counsel for J.C. Penney Company, Inc.[4]
Paxton was a member of the Allen Chamber of Commerce, Centennial Medical Center Board, Collin County Bar Association, Dallas Estate Planning Council, Frisco Chamber of Commerce, Marketplace Ministries Board of Directors, McKinney Chamber of Commerce, McKinney Rotary, and Stonebriar Community Church.
Education
- B.A., psychology - Baylor University (1985)
- MBA - Baylor University (1986)
- J.D. - University of Virginia Law School (1991)[4]
Political career
Texas Attorney General (2015-Present)
Paxton was first elected to the office of attorney general on November 4, 2014. He was sworn into office on January 5, 2015, replacing Greg Abbott (R).[6] Paxton was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. He was suspended from office in 2023 following a successful impeachment vote in the Texas House of Representatives.
Texas State Senate (2013-2015)
Paxton represented District 8 in the Texas State Senate from 2013 to 2015.[5]
2011 speaker race
Paxton and Warren Chisum of District 88 both challenged incumbent speaker Joe Straus for the leadership position of speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Straus was elected speaker of the Texas House for a second term at the start of the 82nd legislative session on January 11, 2010, in a 132-15 vote. Both Chisum and Paxton dropped out of the race prior to the formal vote.[7]
Elections
2022
See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2022
General election
General election for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated Rochelle Garza and Mark Ash in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ken Paxton (R) | 53.4 | 4,278,986 |
![]() | Rochelle Garza (D) ![]() | 43.7 | 3,497,267 | |
![]() | Mark Ash (L) | 2.9 | 233,750 |
Total votes: 8,010,003 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas
Rochelle Garza defeated Joe Jaworski in the Democratic primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Rochelle Garza ![]() | 62.7 | 305,168 |
![]() | Joe Jaworski ![]() | 37.3 | 181,744 |
Total votes: 486,912 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated George P. Bush in the Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ken Paxton | 68.0 | 633,223 |
![]() | George P. Bush | 32.0 | 298,577 |
Total votes: 931,800 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas
Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski advanced to a runoff. They defeated Lee Merritt, Mike Fields, and S. T-Bone Raynor in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Rochelle Garza ![]() | 43.0 | 438,134 |
✔ | ![]() | Joe Jaworski ![]() | 19.8 | 202,140 |
Lee Merritt | 19.4 | 198,108 | ||
![]() | Mike Fields ![]() | 12.3 | 125,373 | |
![]() | S. T-Bone Raynor | 5.5 | 55,944 |
Total votes: 1,019,699 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton and George P. Bush advanced to a runoff. They defeated Eva Guzman and Louis B. Gohmert Jr. in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ken Paxton | 42.7 | 823,199 |
✔ | ![]() | George P. Bush | 22.8 | 439,240 |
![]() | Eva Guzman ![]() | 17.5 | 337,761 | |
![]() | Louis B. Gohmert Jr. | 17.0 | 327,257 |
Total votes: 1,927,457 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Matt Krause (R)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas
Mark Ash advanced from the Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas on April 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mark Ash (L) |
![]() | ||||
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Campaign finance
2018
- See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2018
General election
General election for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated Justin Nelson and Michael Ray Harris in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ken Paxton (R) | 50.6 | 4,193,207 |
![]() | Justin Nelson (D) | 47.0 | 3,898,098 | |
![]() | Michael Ray Harris (L) | 2.4 | 201,310 |
Total votes: 8,292,615 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas
Justin Nelson advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
✔ | ![]() | Justin Nelson |
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
✔ | ![]() | Ken Paxton |
![]() | ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas
Michael Ray Harris defeated Jamar Osborne in the Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas on April 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Michael Ray Harris (L) | 90.4 | 236 |
![]() | Jamar Osborne (L) | 9.6 | 25 |
Total votes: 261 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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2014
- See also: Texas attorney general election, 2014
Paxton ran for election as Texas attorney general. Paxton came in first for the Republican nomination in the primary on March 4, 2014, and faced Dan Branch in a runoff on May 27, which Paxton won. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.[8]
Results
Primary election
Texas Attorney General Republican Primary, 2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
![]() |
44.5% | 569,034 | ||
![]() |
33.4% | 428,034 | ||
Barry Smitherman | 22.1% | 282,701 | ||
Total Votes | 1,279,769 | |||
Election results via Texas Secretary of State. |
Primary runoff
Texas Attorney General Republican Runoff, 2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
![]() |
65% | 489,586 | ||
Dan Branch | 35% | 263,194 | ||
Total Votes | 752,780 | |||
Election results via Texas Secretary of State. |
General election
Attorney General of Texas, 2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
58.8% | 2,742,646 | |
Democrat | Sam Houston | 38% | 1,773,108 | |
Libertarian | Jamie Balagia | 2.5% | 118,186 | |
Green | Jamar Osborne | 0.6% | 29,590 | |
Total Votes | 4,663,530 | |||
Election results via Texas Secretary of State |
Endorsements
- Texas Right to Life PAC[9]
- Empower Texans[10]
2012
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2012
Paxton won election in the 2012 election for Texas State Senate District 8. Paxton ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election and won election in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11]
2010
Paxton won re-election unopposed in District 70. He was unopposed in the March 2 Republican primary and faced no opposition in the November 2 general election.[11]
Texas House of Representatives, District 70 2010 General election results | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
![]() |
43,006 | 100% |
2008
On November 4, 2008, Paxton won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 70th District, defeating Robert Virasin (L). Paxton received 73,450 votes in the election while Virasin received 11,751 votes.[11] Paxton raised $320,266 in campaign contributions.[12]
Texas House of Representatives, District 70 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
![]() |
73,450 | 86.20% | ||
Robert Virasin (L) | 11,751 | 13.79% |
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ken Paxton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2014
In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session.
2013
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening.[13] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[14]
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2012
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2011
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. A special session was called for May 31 through June 29.[14]
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Noteworthy events
Texas House votes to impeach Paxton, Senate votes to acquit (2023)
- See also Impeachment of Ken Paxton, 2023
The Texas House of Representatives voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton on May 27, 2023.[15] The Texas Tribune's Zach Despart and James Barragán wrote that "Many of the articles of impeachment focused on allegations that Paxton had repeatedly abused his powers of office to help a political donor and friend, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul."[16]
The Texas House of Representatives General Investigating Committee unanimously recommended Paxton's impeachment on May 25, 2023, after beginning an investigation in March 2023.[17][18] The Texas Tribune reported that four investigators for the House committee said during a public forum that they believed Paxton "broke numerous state laws, misspent office funds and misused his power to benefit a friend and political donor."[19]
According to the Texas Constitution, Paxton was suspended from office during the impeachment process.[20] Following the House vote that impeached him, Paxton said, "The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just. It was a politically motivated sham from the beginning. … What we witnessed today is not just about me. It is about the corrupt establishment's eagerness to overpower the millions of Texas voters who already made their voices heard when they overwhelmingly re-elected me."[21] A senior lawyer in Paxton's office, Chris Hilton, stated that what the investigators said was "false," "misleading," and "full of errors big and small."[19]
On September 16, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton on 16 articles of impeachment, and he resumed serving as attorney general on September 18, 2023.[1][22] After the vote, Paxton issued a statement: "The sham impeachment coordinated by the Biden Administration with liberal House Speaker Dade Phelan and his kangaroo court has cost taxpayers millions of dollars, disrupted the work of the Office of Attorney General and left a dark and permanent stain on the Texas House. The weaponization of the impeachment process to settle political differences is not only wrong, it is immoral and corrupt."[23] The Senate also voted to dismiss the four other articles of impeachment that had been held in abeyance at the start of the trial.[24]
The 20 articles of impeachment were categorized as follows:
- Disregard of official duty (7 articles)
- False statements in official records (3)
- Constitutional bribery (2)
- Obstruction of justice (2)
- Abuse of public trust
- Conspiracy and attempted conspiracy
- Dereliction of duty
- Misapplication of public resources
- Misappropriation of public resources
- Unfitness for office[25]
Twelve articles of impeachment were related to events regarding the investigations of Paul and the members of Paxton's staff that left office during that time.[25] Click here to read more about those events. Three articles related to Paxton's 2015 indictment for securities fraud.[25] Click here to read more about those events. The remaining five articles related to Paxton's overall conduct while in office.[25] Click here for the full Texas House of Representatives resolution detailing the articles of impeachment against Paxton.
Paxton was the second statewide official, and the third overall, to be impeached in Texas history. [26] Click here for more information about impeachments in Texas.
Top aide resigns and accusations of bribery and abuse of office (2020)
On October 5, 2020, The Washington Post reported that Jeffrey Mateer, Paxton's first assistant, resigned. Mateer and six other aides submitted a letter to Human Resources Director Greg Simpson alleging that Paxton had been, "violating federal and/or state law, including prohibitions relating to improper influence, abuse of office, bribery, and other potential criminal offenses."[27] According to the Houston Chronicle, the aides accused Paxton of launching an investigation into the FBI and U.S. Department of Treasury agents who raided the home and business office of Nate Paul in 2019. Paul donated to Paxton's 2018 campaign.[28]
In a statement to the Austin American-Statesman, Paxton's office said, "The complaint filed against Attorney General Paxton was done to impede an ongoing investigation into criminal wrongdoing by public officials including employees of this office...Making false claims is a very serious matter and we plan to investigate this to the fullest extent of the law."[27]
On October 13, 2020, the Houston Chronicle reported that Mark Penley was put on leave and on November 2, 2020, The Texas Tribune reported that he was fired.[29][30] The Houston Chronicle also reported on October 22, 2020, that Paxton's office fired two top aides, Blake Brickman and Lacey Mase.[28] Penley, Brickman, and Mase were three of the seven aides to make accusations against Paxton. According to The Texas Tribune, Mase said, "It was not voluntary."[31] Ian Prior, a spokesperson for Paxton’s campaign, said, "Any suggestion that this has to do with the whistleblower claims is false and demonstrates an unfamiliarity with the facts...There are a number of reasons for these separations that we cannot discuss at this time."[32]
On October 25, 2020, Ryan Vassar was put on leave and Darren McCarty submitted his resignation, effective the first week of November 2020. Both were top aides who had made accusations against Paxton.[33]
Ryan Bangert, the seventh aide to accuse Paxton, resigned on October 28, 2020. The Marshall News Messenger reported that Bangert said, "It has been my honor and privilege to serve alongside the men and women of the Office of the Attorney General."[34]
On November 17, 2020, the Attorney General's Office fired Ryan Vassar.[35]
On February 10, 2023, Paxton and four former top aides reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that Paxton improperly fired them. The Texas Tribune's James Barragán wrote, "The tentative agreement would pay $3.3 million to the four whistleblowers and keep in place an appeals court ruling that allowed the case to move forward. The settlement, once finalized, also will include a statement from Paxton saying he “accepts that plaintiffs acted in a manner that they thought was right and apologizes for referring to them as ‘rogue employees.’”[36] Barragán also wrote that "The settlement...is contingent on the approval of funding", which the state of Texas pay for.[36]
Felony securities fraud indictment
State charges
A grand jury indicted Paxton for felony securities fraud on July 31, 2015. The charges included two counts of first-degree securities fraud in connection with the sale of more than $100,000 or more of Servergy Inc. stock to two investors, along with a lesser charge of not registering.[37] Paxton turned himself in on August 3, 2015, and was booked and released.[38] Paxton said the charges against him were politically motivated and appealed the judge's ruling.
At his first court appearance on the three securities fraud charges on August 27, 2015, Paxton formally pleaded not guilty. After Paxton entered his plea, District Judge George Gallagher granted a motion that Paxton's attorney, Joe Kendall, made to withdraw from the case.[39] On September 10, 2015, Paxton announced he had hired new legal counsel.[40] Paxton's defense team moved to have the charges dismissed on December 1, 2015. Prosecutors sought to amend the indictments. Judge Chris Oldner said he would issue written rulings on those motions.[41][42][43]
In July 2016, a state appeals court denied Paxton's motion to reconsider a previous ruling that upheld criminal charges against him.[44] In August 2016, Paxton appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's court of last resort for all criminal matters in the state.[45]
Following a prosecutor's motion, Judge Gallagher ordered the case moved to Harris County Court on April 12, 2017, setting a tentative trial date for September 12, 2017.[46] In turn, Paxton issued legal challenges seeking Judge Gallagher's removal from the case. The 5th Court of Appeals ruled on May 30, 2017, that in moving the case to Harris County, Judge Gallagher had also lost his authority to try the case since it was out of his jurisdiction. Although the court ordered Judge Gallagher to cancel all upcoming proceedings, including the September 12 trial, it did not directly remove him from the case.[47] As a result of the ruling, Judge Gallagher ordered the transfer of the case to Harris County on June 9, 2017.[48] On June 13, 2017, Judge Robert Johnson was randomly selected to preside over the case.[49] An initial trial on one of the three charges was scheduled for December 11, 2017, but was later delayed indefinitely.[50]
On October 4, 2017, Judge Johnson agreed to further delay the trial at the prosecutors' request, citing disruptions that Hurricane Harvey caused and the unresolved dispute over the prosecutors' pay.[51]
Paxton's trial remained delayed through 2018 and 2019. In July 2019, Paxton's attorneys requested to move the case back to Collin County from Harris County.[52] On June 25, Judge Robert Johnson granted the request, ruling that the trial would take place in Collin County.[53]
On May 27, 2021, a three-judge panel of the Texas First District Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to uphold Johnson's order, setting the stage for Paxton's trial to take place in Collin County.[54]
Federal securities charges dismissed
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed civil securities fraud charges against Paxton in April 2016 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. [55]A U.S. district court judge dismissed these charges in March 2017.[55]
The March 2017 permanent dismissal of the charges followed from a conditional dismissal of the charges in October 2016.[56] Judge Amos Mazzant issued his conditional dismissal on Friday, October 7. Mazzant gave SEC prosecutors 14 days to amend their allegations.[57] On October 21, the SEC filed an amended complaint.[58]
The SEC alleged Paxton misled five investors in Servergy Inc. by not disclosing to them that he received compensation from sales in the form of shares of company stock. Paxton told the SEC that the shares were meant as a gift from the company's founder rather than as compensation.[59]
In his 29-page ruling conditionally dismissing the SEC's charges, federal Judge Amos Mazzant wrote, "This case is not about whether Paxton had a moral obligation to disclose his financial arrangement with Servergy to potential investors. This case is also not about whether Paxton had some general obligation to disclose his financial arrangement to his investor group. The only issue before the Court is to determine whether the facts as pleaded give rise to a plausible claim under federal securities laws."[56]
In Mazzant's final dismissal of the case in March 2017, he wrote, "This case has not changed since the Court conditionally dismissed the Commission’s Original Complaint. The primary deficiency was, and remains, that Paxton had no plausible legal duty to disclose his compensation arrangement with investors."[55]
After the federal court dismissed the SEC charges, Paxton said, "I have maintained all along this whole saga is a political witch hunt. Today’s ruling to dismiss the charges with prejudice confirms that these charges were baseless when the SEC initially brought them and they were without merit when the SEC re-filed them. Someone needs to hold the SEC accountable for this travesty."[55]
Noteworthy cases
• Texas Supreme Court rules against Port Authority of San Antonio (2015) Judge(s):John Devine (Boeing v. Paxton, No. 12-1007) | Click for summary→ |
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In a 7-1 opinion in June 2015, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton must block the release of information from a lease between Boeing and the Port Authority of San Antonio. The reasoning was that the information, according to Boeing, could benefit the company's competitors. Previously, the state had blocked the release of information only when proprietary information and trade secrets were at stake.[60] The case concerned the lease between Boeing, an aerospace manufacturer, and the Port Authority for a manufacturing facility at Kelly Field Annex, formerly an air force base. In 2005, a former Boeing employee requested the release of the full lease; Paxton's office argued that Boeing's efforts to redact parts of the lease were not protected under the state's Public Information Act.[60] Boeing argued that information requested could allow a competitor to calculate the San Antonio operation's overhead costs, potentially putting Boeing at a disadvantage for future government projects.[60] Two lower courts sided with the attorney general's office before the Texas Supreme Court reversed their decisions and favored Boeing.[60] Judge John Devine wrote for the majority that the test for whether information can be blocked "is whether knowing another bidder’s overhead costs would be an advantage, not whether it would be a decisive advantage."[60] He also cited a recent attorney general ruling allowing Governor Greg Abbott confidentiality in his meetings with out-of-state businesses he sought to attract to Texas, on the grounds that the governor's office is a competitor for the business' jobs.[60] In the only dissent, Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd argued that Boeing's defense was "too hypothetical and speculative" to qualify for state protection.[60] He wrote that Boeing failed to identify a specific federal contract for which it was competing or any specific competitor; he also wrote that Boeing failed to identify a specific advantage a competitor might garner through the release of the information.[60] Within three months of the ruling, the attorney general's office cited Boeing v. Paxton at least three times when siding with private companies under government contract.[60] | |
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Candidate Attorney General of Texas |
Officeholder Attorney General of Texas |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Tribune, "Paxton trial updates: Prosecutors failed to convince 21 senators on any of the accusations," accessed September 16, 2023
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "An emboldened Ken Paxton returns to a battered attorney general’s office," accessed September 18, 2023
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Ken Paxton was acquitted. See how each Senator voted." September 16, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Attorney General of Texas, "About Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton," accessed October 9, 2015
- ↑ KXAN, "Ken Paxton sworn in as new Texas attorney general," January 5, 2015
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Straus formally voted speaker," January 11, 2010
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Ken Paxton Announces Bid for Attorney General," August 1, 2013
- ↑ Texas Right to Life, "Texas Right to Life begins 2014 endorsement process," November 4, 2013
- ↑ Empower Texans, "2014 Endorsements," November 19, 2013
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 Candidate funds," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ kten.com, "Texas Lawmakers To Tackle Redistricting In Special Session," May 29, 2013
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Legislative reference Library of Texas, "Texas Legislative Sessions and Years," accessed June 13, 2014
- ↑ Twitter, "Patrick Svitek on May 27, 2023," accessed May 27, 2023
- ↑ The Texas Tribune "Texas AG Ken Paxton impeached, suspended from duties; will face Senate trial," May 27, 2023
- ↑ Politico, "Texas lawmakers recommend impeaching AG Paxton after Republican investigation," May 25, 2023
- ↑ Texas house of Representatives, "Memorandum for Members of the House of Representatives Re: Impeachment Process," May 26, 2023
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Texas Tribune, "Investigators detail years of alleged misconduct by Texas AG Ken Paxton in stunning House committee hearing," May 24, 2023
- ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, "The Texas Constitution," accessed May 31, 2023
- ↑ Twitter, "@KenPaxtonTX," May 27, 2023
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "An emboldened Ken Paxton returns to a battered attorney general’s office," accessed September 18, 2023
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment," accessed September 16, 2023
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Ken Paxton was acquitted. See how each Senator voted." September 16, 2023
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 The Texas Tribune, "Here are the 20 articles of impeachment filed against Ken Paxton," May 25, 2023
- ↑ KHOU-11, "Has Texas impeached an elected official before?" May 25, 2023
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 The Washington Post, "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused of bribery and abusing his office by 7 top aides," October 5, 2020
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Houston Chronicle, "Second whistleblower who accused Texas AG Ken Paxton of corruption has been fired," October 22, 2020
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Texas AG Ken Paxton says he’s now investigating two of his top staffers," October 13, 2020
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Two more senior aides fired from Texas attorney general’s office in wake of criminal accusations against Ken Paxton," November 2, 2020
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Top aide in Texas attorney general's office terminated after accusing Ken Paxton of bribery," October 20, 2020
- ↑ The Panola Watchman, "The attorney general's office has sidelined four of the seven whistleblowers who reported Ken Paxton to law enforcement," October 25, 2020
- ↑ CBS Dallas/Fort Worth, "Another Top Deputy Resigns After Accusing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Of Crimes," October 26, 2020
- ↑ The Marshall News Messenger, "All seven of Texas AG Ken Paxton's whistleblowers have resigned, been fired or put on leave," November 1, 2020
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Last whistleblower fired from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office days after suing for retaliation," November 24, 2020
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 The Texas Tribune, "Attorney General Ken Paxton agrees to apologize and pay $3.3 million to whistleblowers in settlement," February 10, 2023
- ↑ Tanya Eiserer, Jason Whitely, Jim Douglas and Marie Saavedra, WFAA, Sources: Grand jury indicts Attorney General Ken Paxton," August 2, 2015
- ↑ Chuck Lindell, American-Statesman, "Ken Paxton arrested, booked; indictment released," August 3, 2015
- ↑ WFAA 8, "Paxton pleads not guilty; has until Sept. 3 to hire lawyer," August 27, 2015
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Paxton enlists help of top Houston defense attorney, former Dallas ADA," September 10, 2015
- ↑ Tanya Eiserer, WFAA.com, “Motions filed to amend Paxton indictments,” November 30, 2015
- ↑ Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman, “Ken Paxton to push for dismissal of charges as lawyers spar,” November 30, 2015
- ↑ Chuck Lindell and Jazmine Ulloa, Austin American-Statesman, "Lawyers for Ken Paxton, prosecutors clash at hearing," December 1, 2015
- ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "Ken Paxton loses another round in criminal case," July 5, 2016
- ↑ Lauren McGaughy, Dallas Morning News, "Texas AG Ken Paxton appeals fraud case again in final attempt to quash felony indictments," August 2, 2016
- ↑ Dallas News, "Dates set for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's trials in Harris County," April 12, 2017
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Texas appeals court: Ken Paxton judge must rescind recent orders," May 30, 2017
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "New Paxton case judge to be picked at random in Harris County," June 9, 2017
- ↑ U.S. News, "New Judge Named in Texas Attorney General's Criminal Case," June 13, 2017
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's criminal trial set for Dec. 11," July 27, 2017
- ↑ The Dallas Morning News, "Judge delays Texas AG Ken Paxton's criminal trials as lawyers snipe at one another," October 5, 2017
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Ken Paxton’s criminal trial has been pending for nearly four years. Here’s a timeline of his legal drama," June 19, 2019
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will return to his native Collin County, judge rules," June 25, 2020
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's criminal case to be heard in Collin County, appeals court rules," May 27, 2021
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 Texas Tribune, "Judge again dismisses SEC case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton", March 2, 2017
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 Dallas Morning News, "Federal judge dismisses civil fraud charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton," October 8, 2016
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Judge Dismisses SEC Case Against Ken Paxton", October 7, 2016
- ↑ Courthouse News, "Texas AG Paxton Faces New SEC Fraud Suit", October 24, 2016
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "SEC Charges Ken Paxton With Securities Fraud," April 11, 2016
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 60.3 60.4 60.5 60.6 60.7 60.8 Governing, "Court makes it easier for companies to keep government contracts secret in Texas," September 25, 2015
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