Ken Paxton faces scrutiny over finances and campaign heckling

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, is facing renewed scrutiny regarding his finances and personal conduct during his campaign against Democrat James Talarico.

Financial records indicate that Paxton has earned between $100,000 and $1 million approximately every 18 months from Premier Vertical Properties, a cellular tower company he co-founded in 2005. One source of this income involves a tower located on the property of Centennial Medical Center, a hospital where Paxton served as a board member from 2003 to 2013. While the company leased space on the tower to T-Mobile in 2006, it remains unclear if Paxton participated in or voted on any agreements between his company and the hospital.

During a recent campaign stop in San Antonio, Paxton was also heckled by attendees. Protesters raised allegations regarding his personal life, specifically referencing past accusations of infidelity, and criticized his office for a plea deal involving a lawyer accused of sexual abuse. These controversies follow a 2023 impeachment attempt by the Texas legislature involving allegations of bribery and abuse of public trust, for which Paxton was ultimately acquitted.