--- title: "Texas AG Ken Paxton's Out-of-State Travel Costs $1.9M for Security" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/texas-ag-ken-paxtons-out-of-state-travel-costs-19m-for-security" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/texas-ag-ken-paxtons-out-of-state-travel-costs-19m-for-security" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/texas-ag-ken-paxtons-out-of-state-travel-costs-19m-for-security.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/texas-ag-ken-paxtons-out-of-state-travel-costs-19m-for-security" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-01T20:45:48.779Z" source_reported: "2026-10-01T19:11:44.993Z" updated: "2026-10-01T20:45:48.779Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-01T21:45:21.739952+00:00" --- # Texas AG Ken Paxton's Out-of-State Travel Costs $1.9M for Security *Records show hundreds of trips and blank workdays during his tenure as attorney general.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to AP review and named experts; some details hedged with 'reportedly'. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Quotes from affected parties and experts; clear separation of fact and comment; some details specific. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises a look inside a lifestyle, which the article delivers with specific examples. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has undertaken more than 275 out-of-state trips since becoming attorney general in 2015. - These trips have incurred a minimum cost of $1.9 million for his security detail, funded by Texas taxpayers. - Paxton's official work calendars show approximately 730 days with no entries since he took office. - Paxton's office stated that his calendars do not reflect his full workday and that travel is necessary due to threats. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken more than 275 trips outside of Texas since he assumed office in 2015. The cost to Texas taxpayers for his security detail during these travels has been at least $1.9 million. Paxton's official calendars indicate approximately 730 blank workdays during his tenure. The attorney general's office stated that the calendars do not fully represent his workday, as they do not include calls and negotiations. The office also indicated that Paxton's travel is necessary due to threats he faces as a result of his work. ## Disagreement on Calendar Entries Washington Top News reported that Paxton's official calendars showed approximately 730 blank workdays since he assumed office, with the number of blank days increasing in recent years. Newser also reported that Paxton left roughly 730 workdays blank on his official schedule. The Independent and The Independent (US) stated that Paxton left roughly 730 workdays blank on his official calendars. In contrast, Paxton's office stated that calendar entries do not capture his full workday, including hours of calls, negotiations, case strategy, and briefings. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific cost estimate of $25,000 for Paxton's trip to Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters tournament, as reported by Washington Top News. The right-rated digest did not include details about the total cost of security detail expenses or the number of blank workdays. ## Who covered it Shares of the 14 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 71% (10) - Centre: 22% (3) - Right: 7% (1) 0 of 14 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-01T21:45:21.739952+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-01T22:30:10.297Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports led on the number of out-of-state trips taken by Ken Paxton and the cost to taxpayers. Multiple outlets highlighted that Paxton has taken over 275 out-of-state trips since 2015, with some specifying destinations like California wine country, European getaways, and Caribbean resorts. The figure of approximately 730 blank workdays on his official calendars was also a prominent point across these reports. The Daily Boulder's headline stated Paxton was "busted using taxpayer funds for leisure trips out of state." Newser noted that as Paxton's MAGA profile rose, so did his jet-setting lifestyle. The Independent and The Independent (US) mentioned Napa wine and Mar-a-Lago in their headlines alongside the blank workdays. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on Ken Paxton's extensive out-of-state travel and its associated costs. Forbes and Newsday highlighted that Paxton has taken over 275 out-of-state trips since taking office in 2015. Washington Top News, which provided a full report, detailed Paxton's "jet-setting lifestyle," including trips to the Masters golf tournament, California wineries, and European hot spots. This report also included commentary from Joshua Blank, director of research for the Texas Politics Project, who suggested the pattern of behaviour might cause voters to question Paxton's commitment to his job. The centre-rated reports also noted Paxton's campaign announcement for the Senate, which occurred out of state. ### Right - The right-rated report from Washington Times used the headline "Inside Ken Paxton's jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts," mirroring the framing of many other outlets. The digest stated that when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched his campaign for Senate last year, he skipped local pageantry. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 3 - high: 6 - veryHigh: 5 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Forbes](https://forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/10/01/ken-paxtons-lavish-travel-has-reportedly-cost-texas-taxpayers-19-million-masters-napa-europe-among-trips) — Ken Paxton’s Lavish Travel Has Reportedly Cost Texas Taxpayers $1.9 Million—Masters, Napa, Europe Among Trips - [The Daily Boulder](https://dailyboulder.com/ken-paxton-busted-using-taxpayer-funds-for-leisure-trips-out-of-state-report) — Ken Paxton busted using taxpayer funds for leisure trips out of state: Report - [Newser](https://newser.com/story/397400/as-paxtons-maga-profile-rose-so-did-jet-setting-lifestyle-report.html) — As Paxton's MAGA Profile Rose, So Did Jet-Setting Lifestyle: Report - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/1/ken-paxtons-jet-setting-lifestyle-california-wineries-european-hot) — Inside Ken Paxton's jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/news/nation/ken-paxton-travel-expenses-campaign-texas-talarico-f69396) — Inside Ken Paxton's jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ken-paxton-texas-travel-expenses-b3059626.html) — Napa wine, Mar-a-Lago and 730 blank workdays inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting life - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/ken-paxton-texas-travel-expenses-b3059626.html) — Napa wine, Mar-a-Lago and 730 blank workdays inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting life - [NBC Dallas-Fort Worth](https://nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/inside-ken-paxton-jet-setting-lifestyle-california-wineries-europe-ski-resorts/4085222) — Inside Ken Paxton's jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/10/inside-ken-paxtons-jet-setting-lifestyle-california-wineries-european-hot-spots-and-ski-resorts-2) — Inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts – WTOP News - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/inside-ken-paxton-s-jet-setting-lifestyle-california-wineries-european-hot-spots-and-ski-resorts/article_f099097e-4faa-51e7-a2bf-6bd9fb26aa5a.html) — Inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/united-states/inside-ken-paxton-s-jet-setting-lifestyle-california-wineries-european-hot-spots-and-ski-resorts/article_465274d3-fe37-57c4-89d2-439f56d43323.html) — Inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/inside-ken-paxtons-jet-setting-lifestyle-california-wineries-european-hot-spots-and-ski-resorts) — Inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-travel-expenses-campaign-texas-talarico-dba14655a17ab0cc4a82f76d4faecd28) — Inside Ken Paxton's jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/inside-ken-paxtons-jet-setting-lifestyle-california-wineries-136911377) — Inside Ken Paxton's jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts ## Questions **How many out-of-state trips has Ken Paxton taken?** Since taking office in 2015, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken over 275 trips out of state. These travels have included destinations such as California wine country, European cities, and Caribbean resorts. **What is the estimated cost of Ken Paxton's travel for his security detail?** The cost to Texas taxpayers for Ken Paxton's security detail during his out-of-state trips is estimated to be a minimum of $1.9 million. Expenses for his security detail alone have reportedly increased significantly since 2015. **How many workdays has Ken Paxton missed according to his calendars?** Ken Paxton's official work calendars show approximately 730 blank days since he became attorney general in 2015. His office has stated that these calendars do not reflect his full workday, which includes calls and negotiations. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/texas-ag-ken-paxtons-out-of-state-travel-costs-19m-for-security. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Texas AG Ken Paxton's Out-of-State Travel Costs $1.9M for Security", https://mediabias.news/politics/texas-ag-ken-paxtons-out-of-state-travel-costs-19m-for-security