WASHINGTON — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was recorded saying the US war with Iran is the biggest obstacle facing his Senate campaign, marking the third significant audio leak involving the Republican in recent days.
At a private fundraising event in Washington, DC, last month, Paxton attributed his struggles in polling against Democrat James Talarico to soaring fuel prices linked to Operation Epic Fury.
“It’s not tariffs … It’s the war, it’s gas prices, it’s diesel,” Paxton said, according to audio obtained by Axios and released hours before President Trump was scheduled to campaign with him Wednesday evening.
“When it’s over $6 per gallon for diesel … people are feeling the pinch,” he continued, adding that elevated fuel costs “drive up food prices and everything else.”
Paxton said cost-of-living concerns were “by far our biggest problem” and explained that they were “why we’re having a hard time with numbers.”
After an audience member noted that Paxton does not control gas prices, the candidate replied: “So many factors in this federal race are uncontrollable. I don’t make the decisions, and I don’t … know what’s behind some of the decisions.”
The candid comments emerged shortly after another leaked recording in which Paxton complained about the alleged influence of Washington Republicans over his campaign.
A separate clip captured Paxton criticizing last month’s GOP midterm convention in Dallas, saying the event had hurt his standing in the polls.
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It remains unclear whether the three recordings came from the same source or were made at the same fundraising gathering.
Talarico currently leads Paxton by 3.1 percentage points, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average.
Texas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988. However, Republicans have spent millions of dollars trying to keep Paxton within striking distance, including $122 million spent last month, according to the Texas Tribune.
Paxton defeated longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in a May primary runoff despite a lengthy record of scandal and controversy. That history includes extramarital affairs and a 2023 impeachment by the Texas legislature over allegations that he misappropriated public resources, gave preferential treatment to a donor and obstructed justice.
He was also indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015. The case was not resolved until 2024, when Paxton agreed to pay $300,000 in restitution, complete legal ethics classes and perform 100 hours of community service.
Some Republican operatives, along with Cornyn, have accused Paxton of running a “lazy” campaign.
Paxton’s campaign dismissed the latest recording as “a non-story.”
“The Attorney General said what every Texan already knows: gas and diesel prices are too high, and hardworking Texans are struggling at the pump and at the grocery store,” the campaign said.
“President Trump is doing everything he can to bring prices down, and Ken Paxton is going to Washington to help him by putting money back in families’ pockets.”
