Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running as the Republican candidate for Senate, recently expressed concerns to a group of conservative donors and lobbyists about the negative impact of the state’s recent midterm convention in Dallas on GOP polling numbers.
“Honestly, our numbers — when we had that convention, it dropped our numbers. Everybody’s numbers dropped,” Paxton reportedly stated last week, as heard in audio acquired by the New York Times. “Right now, it’s not looking good.”
Paxton is in a competitive race with State Rep. James Talarico, who is aiming to become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Texas since 1988. Current polling averages from RealClearPolitics show Talarico leading Paxton by 2.9 percentage points.
This perspective on the convention’s effects on his polling contrasts sharply with that of former President Trump, who remarked to reporters while in Ireland on September 13: “I believe our successful convention really helped Ken Paxton. He played a significant role in it. And let’s face it, he was an excellent attorney general. Ken Paxton continues to be a great attorney general, and that matters a lot… I’ve heard that the convention benefited Ken Paxton significantly.”
Paxton’s campaign adviser, Nick Maddux, dismissed the New York Times’ portrayal, labeling it as “manipulated nonsense” and asserting that recent polls show Paxton leading by three points. He also claimed that reputable pollsters indicate an improvement in their numbers since early September, and confidently stated that Paxton expects to close strong, particularly with Trump’s support during his visit to Texas this week.
Trump is set to appear at a Peterbilt Motors facility in Denton, Texas, on Thursday as part of his effort to rally support for Republican candidates and maintain control over the House and Senate.
At 63, Paxton previously defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a contentious GOP primary early this year, despite facing personal and political controversies, including his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, filing for divorce on “biblical grounds.” She has since urged voters to preserve the Republican hold on the Senate seat. Additionally, Paxton was impeached by the Texas legislature in May 2023 over corruption allegations but was acquitted.
Recently, it was reported that the Senate Leadership Fund, linked to Majority Leader John Thune, has allocated $100 million in support of Paxton, with intentions to continue funding efforts until the Election Day.
“It’s a red wall kind of strategy,” a source mentioned, adding, “We only invest money where we think it can make a meaningful impact.”
