‘It Dropped Our Numbers’: In Leaked Audio, Ken Paxton Admits Trump’s Texas Convention Backfired

Texas Republican US Senate nominee Ken Paxton privately conceded that President Donald Trump’s big “Trumpapalooza” midterm convention in the state backfired politically.

The New York Times on Wednesday published a leaked recording of Paxton telling right-wing donors and lobbyists last week that Trump’s convention, held earlier this month in Dallas, was a net negative for his campaign.

“The numbers—when we did that convention—it dropped our numbers,” Paxton said at one point. “Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.”

The Times report noted that Paxton not only attended the Dallas convention, but featured prominently in it, occupying a “prime seat” in the arena.

Paxton, who will face Democratic nominee James Talarico in November, is also receiving significant help from Trump’s MAGA Inc. super political action committee, which is spending $20 million to boost his candidacy.

Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News, remarked in a social media post that the leaked audio is “not good for Paxton,” as the Texas Republican is not only “trashing Trump in a fundraiser,” but “also trying to shift blame for his bad numbers.”

Zenith Polls founder Adam Carlson similarly predicted that Paxton’s remarks would get him into hot water with Trump.

“If there’s one big no-no with Donald Trump, it’s insulting a big ostentatious event that he puts on,” Carlson explained. “Whether or not this draws his direct public ire, Paxton needs Trump, Trump-aligned super PAC money, and die-hard Trump voters to pull off the win. This could jeopardize all of that.”

The social media account of the Texas Democratic Party jumped on the story, arguing that “Paxton has a history of defrauding and betraying Texans,” and thus “it was only a matter of time before he betrayed Trump.”

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin took the opportunity to ridicule Republicans for basing their 2026 midterm campaign around the president, whom polls show has a job approval rating under 40%.

“They put Trump on full display and now they’re shocked voters noticed,” Martin wrote. “We told you the guy was an anchor. Thanks for insisting on tying him around the neck of every Republican on the ballot.”

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also took a dig at the president, writing that the leaked Paxton audio shows “the Emperor has no coattails.”