Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton admits he has lost control of his own campaign in second damaging audio leak

From the Newshound archive · first published 5 October 2026.

Ken Paxton told a room of DC lobbyists at a private fundraising lunch on September 24 that he feels powerless in his own Senate race, in leaked audio. It is the second damaging recording to emerge from the same lunch in under a week, as a new poll shows Paxton trailing Democrat James Talarico by six points with less than a month to go.

Paxton told about a dozen donors: 'I've never been in a race where I felt less control over the campaign.'

The seat is one Republicans need to hold their Senate majority, yet Trump is being forced to campaign in deep-red Texas amid record low approval ratings.

Paxton also complained he is 'stuck' with messaging from DC: 'I don't have ability to change anything.'