Ken Paxton has made religion a central theme in his Senate race against seminarian James Talarico in Texas. Yet he hasn’t identified a church where he worships or said whether he goes regularly, according to a Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News report.
Paxton, the Republican nominee, describes his mission as divinely given, a defense of Texas against the left. Asked about his own church life, he offered a broad response to the papers.
“I’m a committed Christian, and my faith guides every area of my life,” Paxton said. He added that he’s worshipped in congregations around the state during the campaign.
He used to attend Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, whose pastor, Jack Graham, is a Trump ally. Paxton hasn’t talked about leaving, and a longtime adviser said in March he hadn’t gone there in years. In 1998, Paxton was among the founders of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco. Allies say he’s dropped into their congregations on the campaign trail. State Rep. Mitch Little, who helped defend Paxton at his impeachment trial, said he visited Little’s Carrollton church this summer, though Little doesn’t know where he usually goes. Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress said Paxton stopped by his church a few weeks ago.
Questions about his faith come amid a messy personal storyline.
Paxton’s estranged wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, accused him of adultery in their divorce, and the conservative group Texas Values Action temporarily dropped its backing after he declined to discuss it with them. It has since returned to his corner. Rick Scarborough, a Pearland pastor who organizes political engagement among clergy and still supports Paxton, without much enthusiasm, said Paxton had been a strong ally to Christian voters but that something changed, and he’s been unable to get Paxton to address it. He warned that the saga could depress Christian turnout.
Not everyone sees it as a problem. State Rep. Steve Toth, a pastor and congressional candidate, said policy outweighs private conduct.
“Billy Graham is not on the ballot,” Toth said.
Paxton’s public image leans heavily on Christianity. He’s called the United States a Christian nation, defended Texas’ new law requiring the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, and credited God with rescuing him from impeachment.