DENTON, Texas—State Attorney General Ken Paxton visited a Texas college on Nov. 10 and encouraged students to “have a purpose bigger than yourselves, have a purpose like Charlie Kirk had,” to honor the slain conservative activist.
The Republican is taking his campaign to replace Sen. John Cornyn in 2026 to Turning Point USA chapters at colleges in Austin and Houston, as well as the University of North Texas in Denton (UNT), the site of his Monday visit.
The same day, Paxton announced an undercover investigation of political groups that have allegedly espoused the kind of violence that took Kirk’s life on Sept. 10.
Paxton told a group of about 150 that as attorney general, he has been targeted at least 15 times by political enemies from both parties. He said that when he was impeached in 2023, he never considered making any deals with his accusers.
“I wanted my lawyers to know there was no way out. They were going to have to go to trial,” Paxton said.
He said he was acquitted because the charges were baseless.
Paxton said that Kirk—Turning Point USA’s founder—subscribed to the same philosophy of standing for what’s right even in the face of adversity. Paxton saluted one UNT student, who also spoke that evening, as someone who is upholding Kirk’s legacy.
Mary Catherine Hallmark said she spoke up when other students celebrated Kirk’s death. She said that since that confrontation, she has been subjected to online threats while the students who celebrated have faced no consequences.
Hallmark told the gathering that support from Paxton and others has enabled her to keep the issue in perspective.
“This fight is bigger than me. It’s about every student who has ever been silenced, shamed, or punished for thinking differently,” Hallmark said.
Paxton’s office also opened an undercover investigation into what it called “leftist terror cells” in Texas on Oct. 7, according to a statement on the Texas attorney general’s webpage. He gave the “political assassination of national hero Charlie Kirk” and the rise of “leftist violence” as reasons.
Approximately 25 in attendance appeared to disagree with Paxton and other speakers’ claims, interrupting at various points but remaining civil.
Some in attendance accused Paxton of lying and took exception to the contention by podcaster Sara Gonzalez that Christians are being persecuted in predominantly Muslim countries.
“Actually, I have this wild idea where nobody needs to be beheaded for their religion,” Gonzalez responded.
“According to the findings, Jolt and its volunteer deputy registrars coordinated the scheme to recruit and solicit individuals to submit unlawful voter registration applications, which could be designed to register illegal aliens who lack proper identification,” the statement reads.
According to its website, Jolt Initiative is a “non-profit organization that increases the civic participation of Latinos to build a stronger democray and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.”
Jolt does this through voter registration, leadership development, and community and student organizing.
Jolt issued a statement condemning the lawsuit and announcing it had filed a lawsuit against Paxton.
Paxton has been touting his conservative bona fides since the April 8 announcement of his campaign to replace fellow Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is serving his fourth term.
Paxton, 62, described himself as “a loyal supporter” of President Donald Trump and “a staunch supporter of the America First movement.”
Cornyn’s campaign labeled Paxton “a fraud,” citing his 2023 impeachment. Paxton was acquitted of all the charges brought against him.
The allegations included bribery and abuse of power, and centered on accusations that Paxton used his office to help a real estate developer who was under federal investigation.
