Paxton’s Senate financial disclosures left out rental income and $1.3 million in mortgages, and he owes overdue property taxes in Hawaii

What happened

The New York Times reported in July 2026 that Paxton and trusts tied to him own at least 15 properties worth about $9 million, on an attorney general’s salary of about $153,000, including three Utah luxury-resort condos bought for $1.6 million in February 2026. ^{05 06}

Federal law requires Senate candidates to report their assets, income and debts. Reviewing Paxton’s filings, the Texas Tribune and ProPublica found he listed seven homes and no rental income, even though all but one had been listed for rent. ⁰¹

The reporters also found the filings omitted about $1.3 million in mortgages on three Utah resort condos. He valued a 42-acre plot in Johnson County at between $15,001 and $50,000; the county estimates its market value at $2.9 million. On this year’s disclosure, he valued the same plot at $1 million to $5 million. He valued a separate land stake at up to $50,000, while his business partner said his share has been worth about $1 million for years. Ethics experts said the omissions appear to violate federal disclosure law. ⁰¹

At a July 21, 2026 press conference, Paxton refused to answer a question about his Utah condo purchases. ⁰²

While under felony indictment, Paxton accepted at least $547,000 in gifts for his legal defense, including $100,000 in 2015 from the CEO of a medical imaging company that later paid $3.5 million to settle Medicaid and Medicare billing allegations. A district attorney investigated the gift under bribery laws and closed the probe in 2017 without charges. ^{03 04}

Maui County records show $4,551.77 in unpaid property taxes, penalties and interest on a Lahaina, Hawaii parcel owned by Paxton’s blind trust. The land was bought in 2021 for $410,000 and is now valued at about $1.2 million. It also ran up penalty and interest charges in 2022, 2024 and 2025. Paxton’s campaign and the trust’s manager did not respond to KERA. ⁰⁷

Why it matters

Financial disclosures are how voters see a candidate’s money, debts and potential conflicts. The state’s top law enforcement officer is asking for a federal office while his own required disclosures appear incomplete. ⁰¹

What the sources show

The disclosure findings come from news reporting and ethics experts; no enforcement action has been reported. ⁰¹ The 2017 gift probe ended without charges. ⁰⁴