Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton scored a major endorsement as he and Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) advance to a primary runoff in May.
The Abbey Gate Coalition (AGC), a group of Gold Star family members of the 13 American servicemembers killed at Abbey Gate during President Joe Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan, gave Paxton its “strong endorsement,” which the group noted is “deeply personal.”
“Our families lost loved ones in the Kabul airport attack,” the group explained; its endorsement was obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter. “In the aftermath of that tragedy, General Paxton took the time — often behind the scenes and without fanfare — to support our efforts and ensure our voices were heard by Congress and relevant agencies. His willingness to engage, listen, and facilitate meaningful dialogue contributed to accountability efforts and policy discussions that may prevent similar tragedies in the future. That responsiveness and respect left a lasting impression on our families.”
Darin Hoover, one of the group’s leaders, and the father of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, told the Reporter that he and his fellow Gold Star family members “look forward to seeing [Paxton] in Congress and being able to work with him as another legislator to help the Abbey Gate Coalition pass meaningful legislation that will be better for our military members and their families moving forward, so that what happened to our kids and the manner in which it happened will never ever happen again.
“War is hard enough on families and the military members without the government getting in the way of the Department of War and its goals,” Hoover added.
Hoover and his fellow Gold Star family members added that for Paxton, military service is personal.
“Coming from a military family himself, General Paxton understands the sacrifices of servicemembers and their kin, and the responsibility government bears toward those who dedicate their lives to protect our country,” they explained. “He has been a vocal advocate for legislation to improve coordination between agencies during critical operations, expand mental health and rehabilitation resources for veterans and active-duty personnel, and ensure that military families receive the support they deserve. His practical understanding of these issues reflects both personal experience and sustained policy focus.”
The group of Gold Star family members added in its endorsement that it appreciates a series of other priorities that Paxton has had while in office.
“General Paxton has also prioritized protecting vulnerable communities,” the group said. “He has led statewide initiatives to combat human trafficking, support at-risk individuals, and expand training for law enforcement to identify and stop criminal networks. His office has directly facilitated partnerships between federal, state, and local authorities, ensuring that enforcement efforts are not only reactive but proactive. These programs have saved lives, protected children, and strengthened public trust in law enforcement.”
Joining Hoover in signing the AGC’s endorsement of Paxton are Kelly Hoover-Barnett, Christy Shamblin, Cheryl Juels, Jim McCollum, Steve Nikoui, Coral Doolittle, Mark Schmitz, Jaclyn Schmitz, Herman Lopez, and Alicia Lopez.
The Gold Star families burst onto the national scene during the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when they addressed the main stage and endorsed President Donald Trump.