Polling Average
60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
44.1%
45.6%
Republican
Trump Endorsed
Trump EndorsedKen Paxton
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas
$9.4M
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Ken Paxton is trading at 52% to win the Texas Senate winner? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleAttorney General
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age63 years old (Dec 23, 1962)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationTexas
BackgroundAttorney
Notable personal detailsWarren Kenneth Paxton Jr. is an American lawyer and Republican politician who has served as the Attorney General of Texas since 2015. He previously served in the Texas Legislature before becoming the state's chief legal officer. He has also run for higher office, including U.S. Senate.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgtexasattorneygeneral.govkenpaxton.comaclutx.orgthedailybeast.comaxios.comwww2.texasattorneygeneral.govcapitol.texas.govpa.govsos.texas.govjustice.govnga.orgnacogdoches.orgfiles.hdfcfund.compt.wikipedia.orgreddit.comtexastribune.orgoag.state.tx.usksat.comstar-telegram.comkeranews.orgtexasscorecard.comfoxnews.comfacebook.comcbsnews.comabcnews.comnpr.orgapnews.comtheguardian.combbc.comusatoday.compolitico.comhoustonpublicmedia.orgpbs.orgnewsweek.comkten.comsemafor.comdentonrc.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgvotesmart.orgstatic.votesmart.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgdonate.ballotpedia.orgcommons.wikimedia.orgcreativecommons.orgupload.wikimedia.orgballotready.orgarrington.house.govronjohnson.senate.govcongress.govjudiciary.senate.govde.wikipedia.org
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering or protecting taxes for households and businesses and favors passing corporate tax savings to consumers; has intervened to defend property tax cuts and opposed local actions that would raise property taxes. Policy actions emphasize tax relief and reduced tax burdens rather than expanding taxation or redistribution.
Healthcare
Opposes federal mandates expanding or compelling specific healthcare services and defends state control over Medicaid and parental access to children’s medical records; pursues legal action against federal HHS rules and policies he views as overreach. Supports enforcement actions against pharmaceutical companies and investigations of healthcare practices he deems deceptive or unsafe.
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Immigration & Border
Ken Paxton advocates aggressive enforcement-first border and immigration policies, including criminalizing illegal entry, supporting detention and removal of unauthorized immigrants, opposing DACA and sanctuary/local noncooperation, and suing NGOs and localities he alleges facilitate unlawful immigration. He has led legal actions and public campaigns to expand state enforcement authority and to block or reverse federal policies he views as permissive toward unauthorized migration.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Ken Paxton supports strict limits on abortion and has acted to defend and expand enforcement of Texas’s pro-life laws; he commemorated the overturning of Roe v. Wade and has sought to block or challenge policies and rulings that would expand abortion access or exceptions.
Climate & Energy
Ken Paxton has repeatedly challenged federal climate and green-energy regulations and taken legal action to protect fossil fuel production and exports. His office frames federal emissions rules, methane regulations, and renewable-focused grid mandates as unlawful federal overreach that threaten energy independence and economic interests. Paxton has also pursued litigation against financial firms and policies he says favor ‘green energy’ at the expense of traditional energy sources.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports broad Second Amendment protections, including constitutional/concealed-carry reciprocity and defending the right of licensed Texans to carry on public property; opposes local or federal firearm restrictions and has repeatedly sued or filed briefs to block firearm bans. Advocates policies to expand carry rights rather than new gun-control measures.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedAug 18, 2026
Ken Paxton has become the Republican nominee for the Texas U.S. Senate race after defeating John Cornyn, and he is now running against Democrat James Talarico in a contest that recent polls show as close or slightly favoring Talarico. Paxton has been emphasizing that Texas is crucial for Republicans to keep the Senate majority, while also facing scrutiny over past scandals and campaign questions. His office’s probe into alleged noncitizen voting has also drawn attention after it produced only a few prosecutions and included some referrals that turned out to be U.S. citizens.
en.wikipedia.org+53
Articles
NNNBC News7 days ago
A McDonald’s provides normalcy in Ukraine and actor Hayden Panettiere dies: Morning Rundown
Negative
TDThe Daily Beast15 days ago
Trump Senate Pick Sounds Alarm as GOP Braces for Midterms
Neutral
F4FOX 4 News20 days ago
Black Texas voters favor Talarico, but frustration with Democrats runs high
Negative
Ccleveland.com24 days ago
Democrat has narrow lead in deep-red state Trump carried by 14 points: New poll
Negative
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Ken Paxton currently averages 44.1%, ranking second in this race, 1.5 points behind the next candidate.
Polling average: 44.1%Position: secondMargin: -1.5 ptsLatest poll: 47.2% (Aug 9 - 10)Polls included: 25
Average recalculated from polls through Aug 9 - 10.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
8Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
Total raisedCash on hand
$9.2M
$6.9M
$4.6M
$2.3M
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$9.2M
$1.8M
$7.5M
$416.3K
Source: FEC