Leaked audio: Ken Paxton tells donors the Iran war and gas prices, not tariffs, are dragging his Senate campaign

Political Guyentist · October 8, 20261 min read

Paxton (R-TX) cited diesel above $6 a gallon and added, "I don't make the decisions"; this is his third leaked recording after earlier tapes blamed Trump's convention for hurting his numbers and said D.C. controls his race.

The rescue effortThe Senate GOP super PAC, MAGA Inc. and others are spending heavily to save Paxton (Politico).3 details

The Senate GOP super PAC, MAGA Inc. and others are spending heavily to save Paxton (Politico).
A Republican in the rescue effort: "He is welcome to raise his own money and say whatever he wants."
Former Rep. Carlos Curbelo: Paxton is "preparing to blame others for what might be one of the most embarrassing defeats in modern political history."

What we’re less sure of2 of 6 claims

Low
This is Paxton's third leaked recording; earlier tapes blamed Trump's convention for hurting his numbers and said D.C. controls his race.
The story states the count and characterizes the earlier tapes in its own voice, with no source named. None of the listed sources is described as documenting the earlier recordings.
Medium
A Republican involved in the rescue effort said, "He is welcome to raise his own money and say whatever he wants."
The quote is attributed to an anonymous Republican in the rescue effort, so the speaker cannot be identified or checked. It is likely from Politico's reporting.