Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton is heard in leaked audio telling donors that President Donald Trump’s GOP midterm convention harmed him politically ahead of upcoming midterm elections. Multiple outlets report that Paxton made the comment during a private fundraising event, where he discussed how the convention affected his support and standing.
According to the reports, Paxton’s remarks are directed at the political impact of the convention on Republican polling and momentum. ABC News and The Washington Times describe Paxton speaking privately to donors, while CBS News reports the comments as part of a leaked recording. All three outlets frame the development as a reported private assessment by Paxton of how the convention played with voters.
The differences among the outlets center on how they characterize the setting—whether the event is described as a fundraiser in general or involving a small group of donors and lobbyists—and on the emphasis on the leaked-audio element. None of the sources provide details here on Paxton’s public response or any follow-up from Trump or party officials.
