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UPDATE

Originally recorded in 2024, this interview takes on renewed significance in light of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s entry into the 2026 U.S. Senate race. As Texas gears up for a high-stakes Republican primary, Paxton’s insights into border security, election integrity, and political warfare offer a compelling preview of the battle lines being drawn.

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From Coast to Texas: Paxton’s Early Life and Career Path

Ken Paxton’s story begins far from the Texas statehouse. The son of a B-52 Air Force pilot, Paxton spent his childhood moving across the country—living in New York, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and California—before finally settling in Texas. He attended Baylor University, where he met his wife, a mathematical sciences major who later pursued a master’s degree at the University of Houston.

PoliticIt Radio: I Stand for Texas (Ken Paxton Song)

After earning his MBA from Baylor, Paxton worked at Arthur Andersen Consulting in Houston before completing a law degree at the University of Virginia. He fondly recalls his time at UVA, citing its Jeffersonian architecture and deep sense of history. Returning to Texas, he began practicing law in Dallas and raising a family. Though he initially focused on his legal career, he eventually found himself drawn into the world of politics.

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An Unconventional Road to the Attorney General’s Office

Paxton’s rise to Attorney General was anything but predictable. He began his public service in the Texas House of Representatives after a new district was created, serving for 10 years and witnessing Texas’s political transformation from Democratic dominance to Republican control. He later served two years in the Texas Senate before deciding to run statewide.

He jokes about the structure of the Texas Legislature—150 House members and 31 Senators—mirroring the number of Psalms and Proverbs in the Bible, a coincidence he sees as symbolic of the state’s biblical foundations.

Despite not planning to run for attorney general, he was encouraged by friends to challenge the status quo and run for the position in 2014. He won and took office in 2015.

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Clashing with the Establishment: A Fight Against the Status Quo

Paxton describes the internal workings of Texas politics as often more adversarial within the Republican Party than with Democrats. Following the 2008 election, Democrats briefly gained control of the Texas House with the help of moderate Republicans. Because Paxton opposed the selection of a Democratic speaker, he was politically sidelined—removed from influential committees and isolated by leadership.

Still, his conservative base grew. As his name recognition rose statewide, he entered the race for Attorney General and emerged victorious, despite facing entrenched political opposition. He also notes the financial strain of balancing public service with private law practice, as Texas legislators are paid minimally.

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Impeachment and Legal Warfare: A Politically Charged Battle

Paxton’s most controversial chapter came just four months into his third term as Attorney General. A secret investigation, led by a House committee and reportedly involving attorneys connected to the Biden Department of Justice, culminated in a surprise impeachment vote over Memorial Day weekend.

He was suspended from office without pay and barred from speaking publicly in his own defense. Paxton sharply criticizes the process, alleging it lacked witnesses, evidence, and even formal charges—calling it a blatant political takedown.

He points to alliances between Democrats and influential Republican-aligned groups, including Karl Rove and Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), as driving forces behind the impeachment. While TLR was once focused on lawsuit abuse, Paxton argues it has pivoted to support open-border policies and more moderate Republican candidates—positions that conflict with his hardline conservative stance.

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Border Security: Texas Leading Where Washington Has Failed

Paxton defends Texas’s bold approach to border enforcement as both constitutional and essential, given what he calls the federal government’s abdication of responsibility. He rejects the argument that immigration enforcement lies solely with Washington, arguing that Texas has the right—and duty—to protect its own citizens.

He outlines the consequences of federal inaction: a surge in cartel activity, drug trafficking, and rising crime throughout Texas communities. He also highlights the growing role of Chinese nationals in smuggling operations, noting the high cost paid by families and the deadly consequences of fentanyl infiltration.

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The Politics of Immigration and the Fight for Election Integrity

Paxton views the immigration crisis not only as a public safety threat but as a strategic political maneuver. He argues that the Biden administration’s policies are designed to shift the political balance in red states like Texas and Florida by encouraging illegal immigration that will eventually result in voting blocs aligned with Democrats.

On the topic of election integrity, Paxton details his efforts to prosecute voter fraud, often hampered by progressive district attorneys—whom he claims are backed by George Soros-funded initiatives—that refuse to bring charges. He supports returning prosecutorial authority for election-related crimes to the Attorney General’s office and has backed judicial candidates aligned with this vision.

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Update: Paxton Enters the U.S. Senate Race

In June 2025, Ken Paxton announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, launching a primary challenge against longtime Republican Senator John Cornyn. The race has quickly become a national focal point, symbolizing the growing divide between establishment conservatives and the rising populist movement aligned with Donald Trump.

Paxton enters the race with a loyal grassroots following, high name recognition, and a combative record on issues that animate the conservative base. While his critics point to his legal troubles and political baggage, his supporters see a fighter willing to challenge entrenched interests in both Austin and Washington.

This podcast interview—recorded before his campaign launch—provides an uncensored glimpse into the worldview, strategies, and convictions of a man who now seeks to take his Texas-sized fight to the halls of the U.S. Senate.

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🥊 Sidebar: Paxton vs. Cornyn – A GOP Showdown in Texas

Issue	Ken Paxton	Sen. John Cornyn
Political Identity	Trump-aligned populist; critic of GOP establishment	Longtime GOP Senate leader; seen as part of DC establishment
Immigration	State-led enforcement; sues the feds	Supports stronger border policy through federal channels
Election Integrity	Investigates voter fraud; opposes Soros-backed DAs	Defends process integrity; more institutional approach
Impeachment	Survived impeachment; says it was political retaliation	Criticized Trump post-Jan 6; more moderate reputation
Legal Record	Faces charges but claims persecution	Clean legal slate, but viewed as complacent by the base
Support Base	Grassroots conservatives, pro-Trump media	GOP donors, Senate leadership, national PACs
Key Message	“Fight the system from the inside”	“Experience, stability, and results”

Summary: The 2026 Texas Senate primary is shaping up to be a proxy war between populist conservatism and establishment Republicanism. Ken Paxton’s candidacy will test whether grassroots momentum can unseat one of the Senate’s longest-serving incumbents—and reshape the future of the Republican Party in the process.