Confirming earlier speculation that she would run, Angela Paxton officially announced her campaign for the Texas Senate on Tuesday.
A conservative activist in her own right and the wife of Texas’ Attorney General, Ken Paxton, Angela Paxton is expected to be a strong candidate in the campaign to replace outgoing State Sen. Van Taylor (R–Plano). Taylor has announced a campaign for an open congress seat.
Prior to Taylor’s election to the seat in 2018, Senate District 8 was represented by Angela Paxton’s husband. The district is considered to be safely Republican and includes portions of Collin and Dallas counties. It’s been held by conservatives since Ken Paxton was elected in 2012.
Senate District 8 has not had a contested Republican primary since Ken Paxton’s predecessor, State Sen. Florence Shaprio (R–Plano), was first elected in 1992.
Angela Paxton’s announcement sets up what could be a contentious primary battle that pits the Paxton family against another prominent conservative clan, the Huffines.
Phillip Huffines, the current chairman of the Dallas County GOP and identical twin brother of State Sen. Don Huffines (R–Dallas), previously announced a campaign for SD 8 and has been actively campaigning since the winter.
Until Paxton’s announcement, Huffines was the projected frontrunner for the position after two Collin County lawmakers, Republican State Reps. Matt Shaheen and Jeff Leach, ultimately declined to run
