Paxton Admits Trump Convention Hurt Polls in Leaked Audio
Texas Senate hopeful Ken Paxton acknowledged in a private recording that a recent convention associated with Donald Trump negatively impacted his campaign's numbers.
Texas Senate hopeful Ken Paxton privately admitted that Donald Trump's midterm convention dragged down his poll numbers in a leaked audio recording. The remarks were made last Thursday at a small fundraiser near Capitol Hill, according to the recording obtained by The New York Times.
When asked by an attendee if a particular figure was a "drag" on his campaign, Paxton replied, "When we did that convention... it dropped our numbers. Everybody's numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good."
The recording offers a stark contrast to Paxton's public persona as a staunch loyalist to Trump. Paxton secured his place on the Republican ballot for the Senate with Trump's endorsement, defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a primary earlier this year. Trump had personally championed the midterm gathering, held in Dallas, which largely served as a celebration of his presidency.
Paxton was a visible presence at the convention, receiving a prominent seat and engaging with attendees. Trump publicly praised him as the country's best attorney general.
An attendee who opposes Paxton's campaign provided the recording to The New York Times, and three other sources familiar with the fundraiser confirmed Paxton's presence. Nick Maddux, a senior adviser to Paxton, accused The New York Times of distorting the audio to create a false narrative. Maddux stated that recent polls show Paxton leading by three points and that his numbers have improved since early September. He added that Paxton intends to win the race and will continue to work alongside Trump.
However, with Election Day approaching, Paxton has been trailing Democrat James Talarico in several recent polls. Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., has already committed $20 million to support Paxton's campaign. This contrasts with Trump's own public statements following the convention, where he claimed the event significantly benefited Paxton's candidacy.
Despite Trump's optimistic public remarks, Republican insiders and candidates have privately expressed concerns that the upcoming midterm elections could result in Republicans losing their majorities in both the House and Senate. Current polling averages suggest Democrats hold narrow leads in key Senate battleground states, including Texas, Maine, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, and Alaska. A loss of either chamber could empower Democrats to initiate investigations into the Trump administration and potentially pursue another impeachment.