Ken Paxton admits his Texas Senate campaign is run from Washington

Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate, was recorded at a Washington fundraiser saying he feels powerless over his campaign’s messaging, which he said is being directed from D.C. The leak, obtained by a political newsletter, adds to an earlier recording where Paxton linked a recent Republican convention to a drop in his poll numbers. In the new audio, Paxton lamented his inability to control the narrative and noted the challenge of reaching voters while the message comes from outside the state.

A recent one outlet/Siena poll shows Democratic nominee James Talarico leading Paxton by six points, intensifying Republican worries about the traditionally safe seat. Republican groups have pledged roughly $166 million for the final stretch of the race. Paxton’s campaign adviser, Nick Maddux, responded that the candidate is on the ground daily, raising funds and delivering his own television ads despite the reported coordination with outside groups.