Ken Paxton Defends Record After WSJ Labels Him “Scandal-Plagued”

During a Sunday-morning interview on Fox News’ *Sunday Morning Futures*, anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton how he would address the Wall Street Journal’s description of him as “scandal-plagued.” Paxton replied that the label was driven by political opponents and noted that similar accusations could be made about former President Donald Trump.

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Paxton entered the 2026 U.S. Senate race with the endorsement of President Donald Trump, secured just days before the Republican primary runoff. In that runoff, Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn with 64 percent of the vote to Cornyn’s 36 percent. A pre-runoff poll indicated that 81 percent of primary voters recognized Paxton, and among those, 35 percent said they would be more likely to vote for him than for Cornyn.

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Political strategist Karl Rove, a former advisor to President George W. Bush, authored a Wall Street Journal piece titled “The GOP’s Five Paxton Problems.” Rove warned that Paxton’s legal and ethical controversies could expose every Texas Republican candidate to similar scrutiny in upcoming elections.

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Paxton framed the accusations as unproven, emphasizing that “accusations don’t mean that the thing actually happened” and that opponents must provide evidence. He argued that the lack of proof should preclude negative judgments and suggested that the same standard applies to Trump. Paxton also dismissed Rove’s criticism as a partisan push.

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• Primary runoff result: Paxton 64 % – Cornyn 36 %

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• Voter awareness: 81 % of primary voters knew Paxton

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• Favorability shift: 35 % of those aware said they would be more likely to vote for Paxton than for Cornyn

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The confrontation highlights the intersection of legal allegations and electoral strategy in Texas. Rove’s warning suggests that Paxton’s controversies could influence broader GOP prospects in the state, potentially affecting down-ballot races in the 2026 general election.

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• “What are you going to do about your own record and your own perception?” — Maria Bartiromo, Fox News anchor

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• “I get why they said that, but the reality is they could say the same thing about Donald Trump” — Ken Paxton, Senate candidate

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• “Well, look, that was all pushed by Karl Rove, and I understand how that works,” — Ken Paxton

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• “Every Texas Republican running for Congress, statewide office or the Texas Legislature could be asked about his scandals.” — Karl Rove, political strategist

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The sources do not detail the specific nature of the bribery, fraud, or misconduct allegations against Paxton, nor do they provide responses from the Wall Street Journal or any legal authorities. Consequently, the factual basis of the “scandal-plagued” label remains unverified within the available material.

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As the 2026 general election approaches, Paxton’s campaign is expected to address ongoing scrutiny while leveraging Trump’s endorsement. GOP leaders in Texas may need to navigate the potential electoral impact of Paxton’s legal controversies on other statewide candidates.

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