Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acknowledged that President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran and resulting fuel costs are damaging Republican electoral prospects, according to leaked audio from a closed-door fundraising event.
The Stakes for the Texas Senate Race
Paxton, handpicked by Trump to run for the U.S. Senate in Texas, faces a tightly contested race against progressive Democrat James Talarico. The admission comes as polling indicates Democrats hold leads in several competitive midterm races, including Paxton’s own contest.
In the leaked recording, Paxton identified affordability as the Republican Party’s most significant hurdle heading into next month’s election. He distinguished between trade policy and energy costs, stating that tariffs were not dragging down his campaign.
“It’s not tariffs … it’s the war, it’s gas prices, it’s diesel,” Paxton said in the recording.
By The Numbers
The economic anxiety driving voter sentiment is reflected in recent national data. An Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that 74 percent of Americans view the economy poorly. Furthermore, 65 percent of survey respondents blamed Trump’s policies directly for rising costs.
Paxton noted that diesel prices exceeding $6 per gallon are causing tangible financial strain for voters. A resident in Buda, Texas, was recorded pumping diesel at a Pilot gas station on September 14, illustrating the local impact of these national price trends.
Campaign Control and Policy Responses
Paxton expressed frustration over his limited ability to influence federal policy decisions that affect his campaign. He stated that many factors in his federal race are uncontrollable because he does not make the decisions behind certain executive actions.
“I’ve never been in a race where I felt less control over the campaign… because it’s all coming – you know – from DC,” Paxton said.
This sentiment aligns with earlier reports. Politico reported this week that Paxton admitted outside forces in Washington, D.C., control much of his campaign messaging. The New York Times reported last week that Paxton acknowledged Trump’s Republican midterm convention had negatively impacted his polling numbers.
Campaign Defense
Madison Cercy, a spokesperson for the Paxton campaign, dismissed the leaked comments as a “non-story.” She argued that Trump is actively working to lower prices and that Paxton aims to assist families through policy changes.
Cercy highlighted proposed measures including a bigger child tax credit and larger deductions for healthcare and home buying. She contrasted these proposals with her opponent’s record, claiming Talarico will raise taxes.
The Broader Picture
Trump is scheduled to join Paxton at a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday evening. The event underscores the administration’s effort to bolster support for its Senate candidate amid economic headwinds.
Paxton and Talarico remain neck-and-neck in the polls, with Talarico holding a small lead. The race serves as a bellwether for national Republican performance, particularly regarding voter sensitivity to energy prices and foreign policy expenditures.