Ken Paxton Faces Fresh Scrutiny After Leaked Audio Reveals Campaign Frustrations

No sooner had Republican Texas Senate nominee and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) emerged from one leaked audio scandal, another popped up this week – this time suggesting he has little control over his campaign.

In an audio file leaked to POLITICO, Paxton is heard telling a group of fundraisers in Washington, D.C., last month that he felt little control over his campaign and its messaging.

“I’ve never been in a race where I felt less control over the campaign and, like, what issues are going to matter because it’s all coming—you know—from D.C.,” Paxton said in the recording.

Paxton added that his lack of “control” over his campaign messaging is a “challenge.”

“I don’t have the ability to change anything . . . so I have to live with whatever I’ve got,” he said.

This comes shortly after another leaked audio file revealed Paxton saying the Republican National Committee and President Donald Trump’s midterm convention in September hurt his and other Republicans’ polling numbers.

“Though, to be honest with you, the numbers–when we did that convention, it dropped our numbers,” Paxton said in the recording. “Everybody's numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.”

The President did not seem phased by this comment when visiting Texas last week, calling Paxton the “best” choice for the Texas Senate seat despite being a “pain in the ass” and “controversial.”

Before heading back to Texas for another campaign rally this week, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office this week that he does not regret endorsing Paxton.

“He was a great attorney general. I think he’ll be a great senator,” Trump said. “He was considered the best, or certainly one of the few best, but, the best attorney general in the whole country…I would have no regrets at all.”

The President, along with several other Republican members, have poured tens of millions of dollars into supporting Paxton. His ex-wife, Angela Paxton, even came out this month to encourage Republican women to vote in favor of the Republican ticket.

According to a recent Fox News poll, Paxton trails opponent James Talarico (D-TX) by two points, 51% to 49%, with less than 30 days until the November midterm election.