Paxton privately admits forces in Washington are steering his Texas Senate bid

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, selected by Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for a US Senate seat, reportedly admitted in a private setting that outside forces in Washington DC are effectively steering his campaign. Speaking to attendees at a fundraising event in September, Paxton said he had never felt such a lack of control over a campaign, attributing the situation to decisions being made in the capital.

According to an audio recording obtained by Politico, Paxton said he does not control the campaign's messaging or which issues are prioritized, since direction comes from Washington. An unnamed person who attended the event told Politico that Paxton did not explicitly name Trump's team, though the remarks came up during a broader discussion about the national political climate.

Paxton campaign adviser Nick Maddux responded that campaigns do not coordinate with Super PACs, and that this was what Paxton meant. Maddux added that Paxton remains grateful for support and recognizes Texas's importance to maintaining a Republican Senate majority, noting Paxton is campaigning daily across the state, raising funds, and has launched a statewide television advertising push.

Trump tapped Paxton earlier this year to face Talarico, a political newcomer Democrats hope can flip the traditionally Republican Texas Senate seat in next month's midterm elections. Despite being a long-recognized conservative figure in Texas, Paxton has faced repeated controversy: he was impeached in 2023 over allegations including bribery and abuse of office, though later acquitted. His wife, Angela Paxton, also divorced him citing adultery on religious grounds.

Recent polling shows the race is tight, with Talarico holding a modest edge. A Fox News poll put Talarico at 51% to Paxton's 49% among likely voters, while a New York Times/Siena College survey showed 51% to 45%. A Marist University poll found Talarico at 50% versus Paxton's 44% among registered voters.

This marks the second instance of Paxton reportedly criticizing outside influence over his campaign. The New York Times previously reported that Paxton acknowledged the Republican National Committee's midterm convention had hurt his polling numbers, a claim Maddux dismissed as distorted reporting intended to manufacture a controversy.