Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has taken more than 275 out-of-state trips and left approximately 730 workdays blank on his official calendars since assuming office in 2015, according to an Associated Press review of state and campaign records. The travel has cost Texas taxpayers a minimum of $1.9 million to cover the expenses of his security detail.
The review of records found that reimbursements for Paxton’s out-of-state travel spiked from approximately $30,000 in 2015 to nearly $400,000 in 2024. During a two-year period ending in 2024, Paxton visited locations including Europe, Israel, India, Taiwan, South Africa, the Caribbean, and several U.S. ski resorts. It remains unclear how Paxton financed his personal portion of these trips, as Texas does not require the attorney general to report his daily whereabouts or the specific purposes of out-of-state travel.
Paxton’s office issued an unsigned statement saying that calendar entries do not reflect his full workload, which includes briefings, strategy meetings, and negotiations. The office stated that Paxton’s travel is often related to securing legal settlements from drugmakers and technology companies. They also noted that his security detail is necessary due to threats he faces while "fighting on behalf of the people of Texas."
The travel has become an issue in the U.S. Senate campaign, where Paxton is running against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. Talarico has criticized Paxton for spending July 4 in Great Britain and accused him of prioritizing national political standing over state issues. Former Republican Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Tom Phillips also criticized the politicization of the office, announcing his endorsement of Paxton’s Democratic opponent for attorney general, state Sen. Nathan Johnson.
For the approximately 4,000 employees at the Texas Attorney General’s office, the findings highlight a shift in leadership style. Former deputies told impeachment investigators that Paxton was frequently absent and delegated day-to-day duties to staff. Records show the number of blank workdays on Paxton's official calendar increased from zero in his early years to 112 in 2024. The Senate race will be decided in November 2026.
Paxton has faced multiple investigations by the FBI and state prosecutors, though he has not been convicted of a crime. The Texas legislature has not yet proposed changes to reporting requirements for the attorney general’s daily location or travel funding sources. Further details regarding the specific funding of Paxton’s personal travel expenses have not been reported.