Brief

Ken Paxton claims Trump’s midterm rally hurt his Texas Senate bid

The Texas GOP Senate candidate says a Trump rally hurt his poll numbers, and his campaign dismisses a leaked recording as manipulated.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:54:22 GMT

Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton told CBS News that a Trump‑led midterm convention "dropped our numbers" and left his campaign in a weak position, according to a leaked audio clip.

Paxton’s senior campaign adviser, Lindsey Reiser, called the recording "more manipulated nonsense from the New York Times" and reiterated confidence that Paxton will win.

When CBS asked outgoing Texas Senator John Cornyn for a reaction, he replied with a single word: "whoops."

CBS political reporter Zak Hudak noted that many battleground GOP candidates have avoided close association with President Trump, citing concerns over high prices, the ongoing Iran war and Trump’s low approval rating. He added that Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, making Paxton’s claim about Trump being a drag on Republicans notable.

The report also mentioned that Senate Majority Leader John Thune is traveling to campaign in several states, a departure from the typical fundraising focus of a midterm year.

Key facts

Ken Paxton said the Trump‑led convention lowered his campaign numbers. (cbsnews.com)
Lindsey Reiser called the leaked audio "manipulated nonsense" from the New York Times. (cbsnews.com)
Senator John Cornyn responded with "whoops" when asked about the audio. (cbsnews.com)
Many GOP battleground candidates are avoiding close ties with Trump due to economic and war concerns. (cbsnews.com)
Texas has not voted for a Democratic statewide candidate since 1994. (cbsnews.com)