Third audio leak rocks Ken Paxton's Senate bid as he slams Iran war costs hours before Trump rally

From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026.

Ken Paxton told a private Washington fundraiser that the Iran war, soaring gas prices and diesel above $6 a gallon are dragging down his campaign. It is the third recording leaked from the same 24 September event in a month. Paxton trails Democrat James Talarico in the latest polling with under a month until Election Day. Trump is due to campaign alongside him in San Antonio on Wednesday evening.