The federal criminal investigation was the most serious legal threat the once-embattled Republican faced. With the probe now over, Paxton is gearing up to likely challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in 2026.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton leveraged news Thursday that the Justice Department declined to prosecute him to attack his likely primary opponent, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Justice Department officials effectively ended their corruption investigation into Paxton in the final weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency,

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is gearing up for a potential U.S. Senate run while no longer shadowed by a federal corruption investigation that hung over his rising profile in the Republican Party.