Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ken Paxton
How Ken Paxton built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the Attorney General of Texas since 2015. A Republican, he previously served in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. His tenure as Attorney General has been marked by legal controversies and accusations, including securities fraud charges and an impeachment trial in the Texas Senate.
1917: James E. Ferguson Impeached
In 1917, Governor James E. Ferguson was impeached, marking a significant event in Texas history, relevant due to Paxton becoming the second statewide officeholder to be impeached after Ferguson.
1933: Securities Act of 1933
The Securities Act of 1933 is relevant as Paxton was charged with violating it when the SEC filed a civil enforcement action against him in 2016.
1934: Securities Exchange Act of 1934
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is relevant as Paxton was charged with violating it when the SEC filed a civil enforcement action against him in 2016.
1975: District Judge Impeached
In 1975, a district judge in Texas was impeached, an event noted because Paxton's impeachment on May 27, 2023 made him only the third official in Texas history to be impeached.
1983: Jim Mattox Indicted for Bribery
In 1983, Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox was indicted for bribery. Paxton's indictment on July 28, 2015 marked the first such criminal indictment of a Texas Attorney General in thirty-two years since Mattox.
1988: Returned to school
In 1988, after working as a management consultant for two years, Paxton returned to school.
1991: Worked at Strasburger & Price, L.L.P.
From 1991, Paxton worked at Strasburger & Price, L.L.P.
1995: Worked at J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
In 1995, Paxton started working at J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
November 4, 2002: Won election for Texas House in District 70
On November 4, 2002, Paxton won the election for the Texas House in District 70, defeating Fred Lusk (D) and Robert Worthington (L).
2002: Ended Employment at J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
In 2002, Paxton ended his employment at J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
2004: Won re-election against Democrat Martin Woodward
In 2004, Paxton won re-election against Democrat Martin Woodward, capturing 76% of the vote.
2006: Won re-election, defeating Rick Koster (D) and Robert Virasin (L)
In 2006, Paxton won re-election by defeating Rick Koster (D) and Robert Virasin (L).
2010: Ran unopposed for re-election
In 2010, Paxton ran unopposed for re-election.
2011: Paxton Sells Shares of Servergy Inc.
In 2011, Paxton sold shares of Servergy Inc., a technology company, to investors, which later led to allegations of securities fraud.
2012: Won 2012 election for Texas Senate
In 2012, after winning the election, Paxton replaced the retiring Florence Shapiro in the Texas Senate.
2013: Served in Texas Senate
From 2013, Paxton served in the Texas Senate.
2013: Joe Straus re-elected as Speaker
In 2013, Joe Straus was re-elected to his second term as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.
March 4, 2014: Led in the Republican primary
On March 4, 2014, Paxton led a three-candidate field in the Republican primary for Texas attorney general.
May 27, 2014: Won Republican primary runoff election
On May 27, 2014, Paxton won the runoff election against Dan Branch to secure the Republican nomination for Texas attorney general.
2014: Elected attorney general
In 2014, Paxton was first elected as attorney general, propelled by his alliance with the Tea Party movement.
January 5, 2015: Took office as Attorney General
On January 5, 2015, Paxton officially took office as the Attorney General of Texas.
January 2015: Began term as Attorney General
In January 2015, Paxton's term as Attorney General began.
July 28, 2015: Paxton Indicted on Criminal Charges
On July 28, 2015, Ken Paxton was indicted on three criminal charges: two counts of securities fraud and one count of failing to register with state securities regulators.
August 3, 2015: Paxton Arrested and Booked
On August 3, 2015, following the unsealing of the grand jury indictment, Paxton was arrested and booked. He pleaded not guilty.
2015: Joe Straus re-elected as Speaker
In 2015, Joe Straus was re-elected as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.
2015: Created human trafficking unit
In 2015, Paxton created a human trafficking unit in the AG office.
2015: Became Attorney General of Texas
In 2015, Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. assumed the role of attorney general of Texas, marking a significant milestone in his career.
October 6, 2016: Texas authorities raided Backpage.com
On October 6, 2016, Paxton and then California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced that Texas authorities had raided the Dallas headquarters of Backpage.com and arrested CEO Carl Ferrer on felony charges of pimping.
October 2016: Complaint Against Paxton Conditionally Dismissed
In October 2016, U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III conditionally dismissed the complaint against Paxton, giving the SEC two weeks to refile an amended complaint. The SEC later refiled its securities fraud claims against Paxton.
2016: Paxton Intervenes in Lawsuit Challenging Homestead Exemptions
In 2016, Ken Paxton intervened in a lawsuit challenging the practice of school districts reducing or repealing their local optional homestead exemptions.
2016: Campaign Fundraising
In 2016, Paxton's campaign raised $945,000 in the first half of the year, leaving him with just under $3 million in his campaign account for a potential 2018 re-election bid.
2016: Volkswagen Settles Lawsuit with 44 States
In 2016, Volkswagen settled a lawsuit brought by 44 states against the company for using software that allowed its vehicles to circumvent emissions limits. Texas's share of the settlement was $50 million.
2016: SEC Files Civil Enforcement Action Against Paxton
In 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil enforcement action against Paxton, alleging securities fraud in the Servergy investors case.
March 2017: Venue Change Granted for Paxton's Trial
In March 2017, District Judge George Gallagher granted the prosecution's motion for a change of venue, moving Paxton's trial to Houston in Harris County.
March 2017: Civil Securities Fraud Case Dismissed
In March 2017, the civil securities fraud case against Paxton was dismissed by Judge Mazzant, ruling that Paxton had "no plausible legal duty" to inform investors. The SEC could not bring new action on the same claim against Paxton.
2017: Joe Straus re-elected as Speaker
In 2017, Joe Straus was re-elected as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.
November 6, 2018: Won second term as attorney general
On November 6, 2018, Paxton won a second term as attorney general in the general election, narrowly defeating Democratic nominee Justin Nelson and Libertarian Party nominee Michael Ray Harris.
November 2018: Court Invalidates Attorney's Fees Order
In November 2018, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals invalidated the trial court's order approving payments of attorneys' fees to the special prosecutors in Paxton's case.
2018: Dan Patrick Donations to Paxton Reelection Campaign
In 2018, Dan Patrick donated $125,000 and lent another $125,000 to Paxton's reelection campaign. It became controversial when Patrick presided over Paxton's trial.
2018: Angela Paxton Wins Texas Senate Seat
In 2018, Ken Paxton's wife, Angela Paxton, won the District 8 seat in the Texas Senate.
2018: Potential re-election bid
In 2018, Paxton was preparing for a potential re-election bid.
2018: Re-elected attorney general
In 2018, Paxton was re-elected as attorney general, securing another term in office.
2018: Nate Paul Donation to Paxton's Campaign
In 2018, real estate developer Nate Paul, who had donated $25,000 to Paxton's campaign, was alleged to have been illegally benefited by Paxton's office.
2019: Quadrupled human trafficking unit funding
In 2019, Paxton convinced Texas lawmakers to more than quadruple the human trafficking unit's annual funding.
2019: Paxton Files Motion to Move Case
In 2019, Paxton filed a motion to move the case from Harris County to his native Collin County.
October 2020: Aides Accuse Paxton of Improper Influence
In October 2020, seven of Paxton's top aides published a letter accusing him of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery, and other crimes, providing information to law enforcement. All seven whistleblowers had left the office by the end of the month.
2020: Former Members Sue Texas AG's Office
In 2020, four former members of the Texas AG's Office sued the Office of the Attorney General, alleging that Paxton fired them for reporting misconduct to law enforcement, which is a form of illegal retaliation under the state's Whistleblower Act.
October 2021: Court Rejects Paxton's Appeal in Whistleblower Suit
In October 2021, the Texas Third Court of Appeals rejected Paxton's appeal, affirming the trial court's order in a suit brought by former members of the Texas AG's Office alleging illegal retaliation under the state's Whistleblower Act.
2021: Court of Appeals Agrees to Move Case in Paxton Case
In rulings in 2021, the 1st Court of Appeals in Houston agreed with Paxton and trial court and sided with Paxton that the case be moved to Collin County.
November 8, 2022: Paxton wins Attorney General election for the third time
On November 8, 2022, Paxton won the Attorney General of Texas office for the third time.
2022: Re-elected attorney general
In 2022, Paxton was re-elected as attorney general for a third term, continuing his tenure in the position.
May 23, 2023: Paxton Accuses Phelan of Intoxication and Demands Resignation
On May 23, 2023, Ken Paxton accused Texas Speaker Phelan of performing his duties in a "state of apparent debilitating intoxication" and demanded his resignation and investigation. Phelan responded by calling Paxton's statement a "last ditch effort to save face".
May 25, 2023: House Committee Recommends Impeachment
On May 25, 2023, the Republican-led House General Investigating Committee unanimously recommended that Paxton be impeached, filing 20 articles of impeachment based on their investigation.
May 27, 2023: Paxton Impeached by Texas House
On May 27, 2023, Ken Paxton was impeached after the Texas House voted 121–23 in favor. As a result, Paxton was suspended from office pending a trial in the Texas Senate, and Brent Webster became the acting attorney general.
June 2023: Texas Court Rules Securities Fraud Case Stays in Harris County
In June 2023, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals sided with the prosecution and overturned lower courts' rulings, holding that the securities fraud case against Paxton should remain in Harris County.
June 2023: "Defend Texas Liberty" Donation to Dan Patrick's Campaign
In June 2023, the pro-Paxton "Defend Texas Liberty" gave a $1 million contribution and a $2 million loan to Dan Patrick's campaign before Paxton's trial.
June 21, 2023: Senate Bars Angela Paxton From Voting in Husband's Impeachment Trial
On June 21, 2023, the Texas Senate voted to bar Angela Paxton, Ken Paxton's wife, from voting in her husband's impeachment trial, though she was still required to attend.
September 5, 2023: Paxton's Impeachment Trial Begins
On September 5, 2023, Paxton's impeachment trial began in the Texas Senate. Paxton pleaded "not guilty," and the Senate voted down his motion to dismiss the charges.
September 16, 2023: Paxton Acquitted in Impeachment Trial
On September 16, 2023, Ken Paxton was acquitted in the Texas Senate of all articles of impeachment, allowing him to resume his duties as attorney general.
October 2023: Paxton's Trial Scheduled for April 15, 2024
In October 2023, the Harris County District Court scheduled Paxton's trial to begin on April 15, 2024.
March 26, 2024: Paxton Reaches Agreement to Avoid Trial
On March 26, 2024, Paxton reached an agreement with the special prosecutor's office to avoid trial by paying $300,000 in restitution, performing 200 hours of community service, and taking 15 hours of legal ethics training.
April 15, 2024: Paxton's Trial Date
On April 15, 2024, Paxton's trial was scheduled to begin in the Harris County District Court.
April 8, 2025: Announced Candidacy for U.S. Senate
On April 8, 2025, Paxton announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2026 election, challenging incumbent senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary.
June 18, 2025: Case Dismissal Date
On June 18, 2025, the case against Paxton was dismissed after he completed the terms of the agreement.
2026: Next Election for Dan Patrick
Dan Patrick is not up for reelection until 2026, which is mentioned in relation to a large donation he received before Paxton's trial.
2026: Senate Election
In 2026, Paxton will be running for United States Senate.
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