Republican Ken Paxton has been elected Texas attorney general but could still take office under the cloud of a criminal investigation.
The state senator ran a shadow campaign after being fined $1,000 by state financial regulators in May for soliciting investment clients without registering. Prosecutors in Austin postponed a possible investigation into Paxton until after the election.
Aides to Paxton have called the matter settled and describe the violation as an administrative oversight.
The lingering issue never hurt Paxton's pursuit of a job that has become a powerful political stepping stone in Texas. Behind the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Paxton walloped his GOP primary challenger before this victory over little-known Democrat Sam Houston.
The last two attorneys general have been Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
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