Full Breakdown
Ken Paxton Says Washington Is Driving His Senate Campaign Messaging
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In a privately recorded conversation at a Washington fundraiser in late September, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton complained that his U.S. Senate campaign is being run from Washington, D.C. The audio was obtained by *Politico* and released in early October, marking the second set of recordings in which Paxton expresses frustration with outside influence on his race against Democrat James Talarico.
Background & Context
Paxton, a longtime Texas conservative, was endorsed by former President Donald Trump after a contentious primary that ousted incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. The endorsement came despite Paxton’s 2023 impeachment on bribery and abuse-of-trust allegations and a series of personal scandals that have made the race unusually competitive in a state that voted heavily for Trump in 2024.
Data & Statistics
- Polls: Fox News, New York Times/Siena College and Marist University polls all show Talarico ahead by 2–6 points.
- Campaign spending: Republican groups have pledged more than $300 million for the Texas race. Reported contributions include $122 million spent in September (per *The Texas Tribune*), $131 million from the Texas PAC linked to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and nearly $24 million from Trump’s MAGA Inc super PAC. Paxton’s own campaign has spent roughly $1.2 million of that total.
Official Statements & Responses
President Trump, while endorsing Paxton, later claimed the Republican midterm convention “really helped Ken Paxton,” suggesting the event was a boost rather than a drag.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Poll discrepancies: Different outlets report varying leads for Talarico, leaving the exact margin uncertain.
- Spending figures: Reports cite total Republican investment ranging from “over $300 million” to specific allocations, making the precise financial advantage unclear.
Timeline
- Early September – Trump’s midterm convention in Dallas.
- Late September – Private Washington fundraiser where Paxton’s comments were recorded.
- Early October – *Politico* releases the audio recordings.
- Later this year – General election.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don’t control message or what we’re doing,” — Ken Paxton
- “AG Paxton is thankful for the support and knows how important Texas is to keeping the majority which is why he’s on the ground every day talking to Texas, raising money, and taking his message directly to the people including with his statewide television buy that started over this past weekend,” — Nick Maddux, campaign adviser
- “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.” — Nick Maddux
- “We’re going to send Ken Paxton to the United States Senate because he is, whether you love him or don’t love him, he’s a little controversial, just slightly.” — Donald Trump
- “Republicans have arrived at this really problematic situation where they have a candidate that we know much of the professional Republican class thought was vulnerable and would be not the best candidate to have at the top of the ballot,” — James Henson, Texas Politics Project
What’s Next
Both campaigns plan to intensify advertising in the final weeks, with Paxton’s team launching a $20 million television push and Republican super PACs earmarking additional funds to shore up his margins. The outcome will determine whether the GOP can retain a Senate seat that has long been a stronghold.