Paxton says he’s for working families. He sued to block their overtime pay and fought their sick leave.
He sued to stop overtime pay for about 4 million workers, fought city paid-sick-leave rules, tried to strike down the Affordable Care Act and voted against the Texas equal-pay bill.
Paxton’s campaign claims he will help Texans raise a family without struggling to make ends meet.
Source: Campaign statement released with his economic plan, July 31, 2026 · The Texas TribuneWhat the record shows
As attorney general, Paxton sued to stop the 2024 federal rule expanding overtime pay to about 4 million more workers, and a federal judge struck it down. 01 02 He sued over the $15 minimum wage for federal contractors, joined suits against Austin’s and San Antonio’s paid-sick-leave ordinances, and his office defended the 2023 state law that ended city rules such as water breaks for construction workers. 03 05 07 09
He also led the 20-state lawsuit to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act, including its protections for people with pre-existing conditions; the Supreme Court dismissed it in 2021. 10 12
As a state legislator, he voted against the 2011 bills to license payday and auto-title lenders and require fee disclosures, against the 2013 bill to cap payday loans, against the 2013 state equal-pay bill, and against the 2007 bill restoring 12-month CHIP coverage for children. The votes are listed below with journal citations.
The record behind this
- Paxton sues to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act
After a district judge agreed in December 2018, Paxton said the suit “seeks to effectively repeal Obamacare.”
- Paxton fights Austin workers’ paid sick leave
In 2020 the Texas Supreme Court declined Austin’s appeal, leaving in place a ruling that the ordinance was unconstitutional.
- Paxton fights San Antonio workers’ paid sick leave
The city council had passed the ordinance 9–2.
- Paxton sues to block a $15 minimum wage for federal contract workers
The Fifth Circuit upheld the wage order in February 2025; President Trump revoked it in March 2025.
- Paxton’s lawsuit blocks expanded overtime pay for about 4 million workers
The Labor Department estimated the rule would make about 4 million more workers eligible for overtime pay.
- Paxton’s office defends the law that wiped out local water-break rules for construction workers
The law, HB 2127, blocks city rules that go beyond state law, such as Dallas and Austin water-break requirements for construction workers.
The votes behind this
- Voted against the Texas equal-pay billHB 950: State equal-pay bill (filing deadline for pay-discrimination claims). Passed Senate 16–15; vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry.
- Voted against licensing and regulating payday and auto-title lendersHB 2594: Licensing and regulation of payday and auto-title lenders. Passed House 84–50; he also voted against the final version. Became law.
- Voted against making payday lenders disclose their feesHB 2592: Fee disclosures for payday and auto-title lenders. Passed House 123–23; he also voted against the final version. Became law.
- Voted against capping payday loansSB 1247: Limits on payday and auto-title loans. Passed Senate 24–6; died in a House committee.
- Voted against restoring 12-month CHIP health coverage for childrenHB 109: Restoring 12-month CHIP eligibility and outreach. Passed House 128–17; he also voted against the final version, adopted 134–14. Became law.
- Voted against letting families buy CHIP coverage for their childrenHB 2962: CHIP eligibility changes and a CHIP “buy-in” option. Passed House 87–55; died in the Senate.
Response
Paxton described the overtime rule as federal overreach. 01 On paid sick leave, he said the Legislature, not cities, sets minimum compensation for workers. 07 After the ACA ruling, his campaign continued to oppose the law. 12
Sources
- 01Attorney General Ken Paxton stops attempt to revive regulation rewriting federal overtime lawOffice of the Texas Attorney General · Nov. 18, 2024
- 02Federal court strikes down the U.S. Department of Labor’s overtime ruleMintz (legal analysis) · Nov. 18, 2024
- 03Paxton sues over minimum wage increase for federal contractorsOffice of the Texas Attorney General · Feb. 10, 2022
- 04Fifth Circuit adds new wrinkle to fight over federal contract worker minimum wageCovington & Burling, Inside Government Contracts · Feb. 24, 2025
- 05AG Paxton intervenes in lawsuit challenging Austin’s sick leave ordinanceOffice of the Texas Attorney General · April 30, 2018
- 06Rejecting appeal, Texas Supreme Court blocks Austin’s paid sick leave ordinanceThe Texas Tribune · June 5, 2020
- 07AG Paxton intervenes in lawsuit to strike down San Antonio’s paid sick leave ordinanceOffice of the Texas Attorney General · July 19, 2019
- 08Judge declares new Texas law eroding cities’ power to enact local rules unconstitutionalThe Texas Tribune · Aug. 30, 2023
- 09Appeals court upholds Texas law limiting cities’ enforcement of local ordinancesThe Texas Tribune · July 18, 2025
- 10AG Paxton and Wisconsin AG file 20-state lawsuit against ObamacareOffice of the Texas Attorney General · Feb. 26, 2018
- 11AG Paxton applauds court ruling declaring Obamacare unconstitutionalOffice of the Texas Attorney General · Dec. 15, 2018
- 12Supreme Court tosses Texas-led Affordable Care Act challengeThe Texas Tribune · June 17, 2021