Leaked Audio Reveals Paxton’s Private Concerns Over Convention Fallout
The recording surfaced on Wednesday via a New York Times report detailing a private fundraising event where Ken Paxton spoke before a small group of conservative lobbyists and donors. When asked if Donald Trump was a hindrance, Paxton responded that his own and others’ voter approval dropped during the convention.
“To be honest with you, our numbers dropped when we held that convention. Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, it’s not good,” Paxton said in the leaked audio.
Paxton won the Republican primary in Texas largely due to Donald Trump’s endorsement. Trump campaigned for Paxton despite warnings from Republican strategists who argued that incumbent Senator John Cornyn represented a safer choice for the party.
Sharp Criticism From Party Figures and Campaign Defenses
Reaction from within the Republican party was swift. Former U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry told CNN that Paxton’s remarks were “completely astronomically stupid,” adding that Paxton “is nothing” without Donald Trump and “is biting the hand that created him.”
In response, Nick Maddux, a senior advisor to Paxton, dismissed the report in a statement to The Texas Tribune. Maddux characterized the leak as “more manipulated nonsense from the New York Times to create a story that doesn’t exist,” asserting that campaign polling has improved since early September.
Donald Trump also addressed the recording during a White House session on Wednesday, stating he had not heard the audio yet calling the convention “fantastic” while highlighting its viewership numbers. Trump is scheduled to campaign alongside Paxton in Texas.
Polling Data Shows Talarico Leading in Tight Texas Senate Race
Recent polling figures indicate a competitive contest for the Texas Senate seat. Democratic candidate James Talarico has led in most polls conducted during the autumn. According to Silver Bulletin’s weighted polling average, Talarico leads Paxton by 3.4 percentage points, raising the possibility of the first Democratic Senate victory in Texas since 1988.
Earlier in the election cycle, Senator John Cornyn criticized Paxton’s campaign approach. In an interview with The Texas Tribune, Cornyn described Paxton as “bad at campaigning,” labeling him “lazy” and stating that he fails to gather funds or present compelling arguments for his election.
Campaign Context Check
During the national convention, Donald Trump spoke for nearly two hours, during which he praised Paxton as the top state attorney general in the country while also poking fun at his appearance and speaking style, telling the audience, “He might not dress right, he might not speak quite perfectly… but you know what he is? He’s the best state attorney general in the entire United States.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Texas Senate Race
Who leaked the private audio of Ken Paxton?
The New York Times published the leaked audio on Wednesday, which was captured during a private fundraising event with conservative lobbyists and donors.
How has the Paxton campaign responded to the audio?
Senior advisor Nick Maddux called the report “manipulated nonsense” in a statement to The Texas Tribune, maintaining that campaign numbers have improved and that Paxton anticipates a strong finish alongside Donald Trump.
What do current polls show for the Texas Senate election?
Data from Silver Bulletin’s weighted polling average shows Democrat James Talarico leading Ken Paxton by 3.4 percentage points.
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