Paxton says Trump’s midterm convention dragged GOP numbers down in leaked audio

Published September 30, 2026 10:21am ET



Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton privately told donors and lobbyists in Washington, D.C., last week that the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention hurt “everybody’s numbers,” including his own.

Paxton had a large presence at the convention as President Donald Trump stumped for the Senate candidate onstage. Paxton, however, has said that it may have done him more harm than good.

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