Third leaked recording deepens pressure on trailing Texas Senate hopeful Paxton
Ken Paxton, a trailing Republican Senate candidate in Texas, has been caught on a third leaked recording from a September 24th private fundraising event in Washington DC. Speaking to lobbyists, he blamed the Iran war, high fuel costs and rising diesel prices for dragging down his campaign, whilst acknowledging he has no control over these issues. The release comes just hours before Paxton was due to campaign alongside President Trump in San Antonio, compounding troubles for a candidate already behind in polling.
Paxton trails Democrat James Talarico according to the latest New York Times and Siena Research polling. The leak emerges amid other campaign setbacks, including personal scandals around his ongoing divorce and his relationship with his mistress Tracy Duhon. In separate leaked audio from the same event, Paxton previously admitted that his campaign messaging originates from Washington DC rather than from his own team, saying "I don't have ability to change anything" – a particularly awkward revelation given his dependence on Trump's endorsement to win the Republican primary. The controversy occurs as Trump faces record-low approval ratings of 32 per cent and the Republican party scrambles to maintain control of Congress amid a cost-of-living crisis fuelled by the Iran and Ukraine wars.
- Third leaked tape surfaces hours before Paxton's rally with Trump
- Paxton blames war and fuel costs for struggling campaign
- Trailing Senate candidate admits he lacks control over campaign messaging
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Ken Paxton is a Republican candidate running for US Senate from Texas. He is currently trailing his Democratic opponent James Talarico according to recent opinion polls. Leaked recordings from a private fundraising event in September have revealed comments Paxton made to donors about his campaign.
In the recordings, Paxton blamed external factors such as rising fuel prices and international conflicts for his campaign's struggles, whilst admitting he has little ability to control such circumstances. He also acknowledged that his campaign messaging originates from political operatives in Washington rather than from his own team. This disclosure is significant for a candidate who depends heavily on an endorsement from President Trump to win the Republican primary.
Paxton's campaign has faced additional setbacks including personal scandals around his ongoing divorce and relationship matters. These troubles come at a time when Republicans face broader electoral challenges amid cost-of-living concerns and international conflicts.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The recordings expose fundamental problems with Paxton as a candidate. A Senate hopeful who publicly acknowledges he cannot control factors affecting his campaign and admits his messaging comes entirely from DC strategists rather than his own vision demonstrates either weakness or deception. When combined with personal scandals and his reliance on an increasingly unpopular president, the picture emerges of a candidate who lacks authentic leadership and clear conviction.
The case against
These selectively released recordings misrepresent normal political realities. Acknowledging that macroeconomic forces like inflation and fuel prices affect electoral prospects is realistic, not weak—every candidate operates under such conditions. Employing Washington campaign professionals is standard practice, not evidence of inauthenticity. Personal matters unrelated to governance should remain separate from political evaluation, and Trump's endorsement, regardless of current polling, carries significant weight in Republican primaries.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Paxton campaign rocked by THIRD leaked tape as he slams Iran war just hours before rally with Trump”.