Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Texas, privately expressed concerns that President Donald Trump’s midterm convention held in Dallas last month negatively affected his campaign, according to an audio recording obtained from a recent fundraiser. In the recording, Paxton is heard saying that the convention caused a drop in his polling numbers and that "everybody’s numbers dropped," though the audio does not clearly identify the person posing the question.
The remarks were made last Thursday at a private event hosted by two Republican lobbyists in Washington, D.C., attended by roughly a dozen conservative donors and political operatives. An individual opposed to Paxton’s campaign recorded the conversation and shared it anonymously. Three other attendees confirmed Paxton’s presence and the content of his response.
Paxton’s campaign spokesperson, Nick Maddux, dismissed the recording as a manipulated attempt to generate negative coverage. Maddux pointed to recent internal polling showing Paxton leading by three points, asserting that the candidate’s support has improved since early September. He affirmed that Paxton remains confident about winning the election and looks forward to campaigning alongside Trump during the president’s upcoming visit to Texas.
The private comments stand in contrast to Paxton’s public alignment with Trump, who played a central role in the Dallas convention and has been a staunch supporter of Paxton’s candidacy. Trump helped Paxton secure the Republican nomination earlier this year by defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn, leveraging his influence among Texas conservatives. During the convention, Paxton received prominent visibility, including an onstage mention by Trump, who both praised Paxton as “the greatest attorney general in America” and remarked jokingly on his appearance.
Despite Paxton’s close association with Trump, the senator’s campaign has faced narrow deficits in many recent polls to his Democratic opponent, James Talarico, with Election Day just over five weeks away. Republicans hope that increased spending by outside groups and traditional conservative voter turnout will help reverse Paxton’s fortunes. Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., has committed $20 million to bolster his campaign.
The actual political impact of the Dallas convention on Republican candidates remains uncertain. While Paxton’s private remarks suggest a negative effect, Trump himself offered an opposing view, stating after the event that the convention “really helped Ken Paxton” and that the gathering was a success for the Republican Party.
As the midterm election approaches, Paxton’s campaign will likely depend on intensified voter mobilization efforts and external financial support amid a competitive race in a key battleground state.