The Paxton Record
121–23
House impeachment vote

The Impeachment of Ken Paxton

What Happened

On May 27, 2023, the Texas House of Representatives voted 121 to 23 to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton on 20 articles of impeachment. The charges covered bribery, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and whistleblower retaliation. It made Paxton only the third sitting official impeached in the entire history of Texas.

The Investigation

The House General Investigating Committee, led by Republicans including Rep. Andrew Murr and Rep. Jeff Leach, conducted weeks of investigation into the allegations raised by Paxton's eight former senior aides. The committee heard testimony, reviewed documents, and ultimately recommended impeachment to the full House. This was not a partisan exercise — the committee and the vote were dominated by Paxton's own party.

The Vote

The 121–23 vote included 60 Republicans and all 61 Democrats voting yes. Only 23 Republicans voted no, with 2 not voting and 3 absent. This was one of the most lopsided impeachment votes in American history. The Republican-controlled House was making a statement: the evidence was overwhelming.

The Senate Trial

The Texas Senate trial took place in September 2023. Conviction required a two-thirds supermajority — 21 of 30 eligible senators. Of the 20 articles of impeachment, 16 were brought to trial (4 were held in abeyance). No article reached the 21-vote threshold; the highest count was 14 votes to convict. Paxton was acquitted and immediately reinstated.

Angela Paxton's Role

State Senator Angela Paxton — Ken Paxton's wife — was required to attend the trial but barred from voting under Senate conflict-of-interest rules. She sat through testimony that included allegations of her husband's extramarital affair, unable to participate in the verdict. In July 2025, she filed for divorce.

Sources

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