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Ken Paxton Eyes 2026 Senate Run After DOJ Ends Corruption Probe

The Justice Department's decision not to prosecute Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton clears a major hurdle, boosting his positioning for a likely primary challenge against Senator John Cornyn.

FILE - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas, June 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
FILE - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement at his office, May 26, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a panel discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 27, 2021 in Orlando, Florida.

Overview

  • The Justice Department decided in the final weeks of the Biden administration not to pursue corruption charges against Ken Paxton, ending a years-long federal investigation.
  • Paxton, a close ally of Donald Trump, has framed the DOJ's decision as vindication and has used it to criticize Senator Cornyn as insufficiently supportive of conservative values.
  • Nate Paul, the donor linked to allegations against Paxton, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to federal charges of making false statements to banks.
  • Paxton has hinted at a 2026 Senate primary challenge against Cornyn, with polling showing him as a favored candidate among conservative voters in Texas.
  • Whistleblowers who initially reported Paxton to the FBI continue to stand by their allegations, despite the DOJ's decision not to prosecute.