Republican Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton privately told donors that President Donald Trump’s midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month hurt his campaign, according to an audio recording obtained by The New York Times. In the recording, Paxton is heard saying that Republican numbers dropped after the convention and calling the event a setback for his race against Democratic challenger James Talarico.
During a private fundraiser in Washington, D.C., a donor asked Paxton, “Do you feel like he’s a little bit of a drag?”—though it is unclear whom the question referred to. Paxton responded, “So to be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention — it dropped our numbers. Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.” Three individuals familiar with the event confirmed Paxton’s presence and his remarks to The New York Times.
Trump denies hearing the audio but defends the convention’s impact
When asked about Paxton’s comments during a White House press briefing, Trump stated, “Well, I haven’t heard that, but I can tell you that the convention was amazing, as you probably know. We had 107 million views.” He added that the event was beneficial for other Republican candidates, though he did not specify which ones. The convention, held over two days in early September, was heavily focused on Trump’s record and featured speeches by prominent GOP figures.
Paxton campaign disputes the audio as ‘manipulated nonsense’
Paxton’s spokesperson, Nick Maddux, dismissed the recording as “manipulated nonsense to create a story that doesn’t exist.” Maddux pointed to an internal poll showing Paxton leading Talarico by three points and argued that the candidate’s numbers had improved since early September. “Ken Paxton is going to win this race, and he looks forward to closing strong alongside President Trump,” Maddux stated.
Polling shows tight Senate race in Texas
Recent polling suggests the Senate race remains competitive. A ReconMR Texas Poll conducted in late September found 49% of likely voters supported Talarico, while 43% backed Paxton. The poll’s margin of error was not disclosed. The race is one of several high-stakes contests in Texas, where Republicans are defending multiple statewide offices.
GOP leaders defend Trump’s convention as a net positive
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), chairman of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, criticized Paxton’s remarks, calling them “just wrong.” Scott asserted that Trump and the midterm convention boosted Republican prospects in Texas. “The truth of the matter is, President Trump and the midterm convention was a boost in the right direction,” Scott told reporters.
Background: Paxton’s alignment with Trump and campaign challenges
Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, secured Trump’s endorsement in the GOP primary after defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. However, his general election campaign has faced scrutiny, including legal troubles and controversies over his leadership. During the Dallas convention, Trump both praised Paxton and mocked his appearance, stating, “He may not dress right, he may not talk exactly perfect, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen.”
The latest polling data and Paxton’s own comments suggest that the convention may have had an unintended negative effect on his campaign, though his team disputes this interpretation. The race remains a focal point in Texas, where Republicans are working to maintain control of key statewide offices ahead of the November election.