Leaked audio captures Ken Paxton privately trashing Trump

newsSep 30, 2026291,194

In a leaked audio recording published by The New York Times, Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton told donors at a private Washington fundraiser last Thursday that President Donald Trump’s recent midterm convention in Dallas “dropped our numbers” and that “everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.” Three people confirmed Paxton attended the fundraiser; the person who recorded the audio opposes Paxton’s campaign. The New Republic notes the comments are a public embarrassment for Trump after he backed Paxton against Senator John Cornyn. Polling aggregates from RealClearPolitics showed Democratic support rose after the convention while Republican support stayed about the same. Paxton trails Democrat James Talarico in fundraising; FEC filings show Talarico raised $31.6 million versus Paxton’s $9.3 million, and donors have been skittish amid Paxton’s scandals. The leak prompted immediate concern that Paxton may face further fundraising damage and political fallout inside the GOP.

Adam Kinzinger

@adamkinzinger.substack.com

Today's Kinzinger Report is out and we cover: - Ken Paxton caught on tape admitting Trump hurt his campaign - Hispanic voters abandoning Trump and flipping the GOP's own map - The White House censoring its own chatbot after it fact-checked Trump open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...

7459d ago

LethalDose506

Please please please flip the Texas GOP gerrymander into a dummymander. PLEASE!

Josh5

Paxton is just looking worse and worse. And Rs keep letting him pick their candidates. Bahaha

LJP2

some good stuff here, thanks Adam

Jim K 🇺🇸💙🦅🇺🇦🤴⛹🏼‍♂️🦋2

My biggest question is why were Hispanic voters ever with Trump? Trump didn’t hide what he was going to do with deportation, didn’t hide his disdain for Hispanics with propaganda filled lies their criminality, he’s a fraud on economy (inherited great economy from Obama), was abysmal his 1st term.

ANTIFA AF1

Today's Kinzinger Report is out and we cover why Kinzinger has less than zero credibility and should just stfu forever. #86Adam

Chet’s mom, Jean1

Maybe Trump’s issues with Chatbot will change his opinion of AI?

Scott Horton

@robertscotthorton.bsky.social

Ken Paxton, Donald Trump’s pick in the crucial Texas Senate race, has been caught badmouthing the president.

849d ago

Marty Taylor

@realmartyt7.bsky.social

In private remarks, Ken Paxton said Trump’s midterm convention hurt his Senate campaign www.texastribune.org/2026/09/30/k... #USDemocracy #ProudBlue Paxton agreed Trump’s Mid Term Convention was “kind of a drag” that is hurting his numbers I expect a Trump anti Paxton meltdown soon.

449d ago

🇨🇦💚💙DomesticMetisGoddess💚💙🇨🇦 Names Jen!2

No Ken you did that all by yourself you pedophile protector

Calanthatxblue1

😆 Bless his little heart 😂

All In with Chris Hayes

@allinwithchris.bsky.social

In leaked audio obtained by the New York Times, Senate candidate Ken Paxton complains “everybody’s numbers dropped” after Trump hosted a GOP midterm “convention” in Texas.

589d ago

Quoting this

Jen Phelan 🇨🇦8

The irony of this situation is killing me 😂😂

Texas Tribune

@texastribune.org

Attorney General Ken Paxton said the Trump-led GOP convention in Dallas “dropped our numbers,” according to a recent audio recording published by The New York Times.

359d ago

La Zarigueya2

Ken, know what else hurt your election bid? 🤔

Christopher Plessinger2

I'm so glad Trump is going out to stump for them. Best thing he could do.

jcp49.bsky.social1

I hope his numbers tank! He and tRump are peas in a pod.

Styx&Stonz1

Considering the candidate, that's actually a difficult accomplishment. Paxton is just Drumpf lite and was probably quite capable of tanking those numbers all by his little, ol' indicted self...

ppasture.bsky.social1

LOL. Good. Go Fuck off you little melty bobbleheaded MF

Quoting this

Chet2

Trump might have a little hissy

Scott Smith

@canaansdad1987.bsky.social

I don't know how badly it could have hurt him. He was already doing pretty badly on his own but everything Trump touches fails. So, it probably did some #USDemocracy Ken Paxton, G.O.P. Nominee in Texas, Privately Said Trump’s Convention Hurt Him - The New York Times share.google/Q0IQNzlFznrV...

299d ago

TrumpsTaxes

@trumpstaxes.com

Incredible. Ken Paxton gets caught on tape trashing Trump’s midterm convention and telling donors that it hurt the GOP’s numbers, including his own. I could not imagine a better leak at a better time. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/u...

239d ago

Silvija (still) stands with Ukraine

@svecrumba.bsky.social

@hartmannreport.com covers Google co-founder spending over $100 million to fight billionaire tax, Paxton trashing Trump, Ohio residents protesting GOP Senator's support of data centers, DHS destroying ancient art dating 6500 years ago to build border wall. #Blues www.rawamerica.com/p/breaking-k...

159d ago

Blue Dot in Red State

@bluedotin.bsky.social

(DEM Wins) Trump-backed Sen. Jim Justice tells the administration to dial back ICE sweeps Leaked audio: Ken Paxton says Trump’s convention “dropped our numbers” Eric Schmitt still won’t apologize to Jack Smith — and Fox’s Brit Hume isn’t defending him

229d ago

it's Candy Love

@candylovely.bsky.social

😂😂😂😂😂 He seems to be losing.... Ken Paxton Caught Privately Trashing Trump in Leaked Audio newrepublic.com/post/216014/... via @newrepublic.com

159d ago

Don3

I think most Republicans are privately trashing him and wish he wouldn’t wake up from his naps. But they need that 35% base to get elected.

Lincoln Square

@lincolnsquare.media

Publicly, they kiss the ring. Privately, not so much. In new leaked audio obtained by The New York Times, Texas AG and GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton concedes Trump's influence tanked their numbers. lincolnsquare.media #KenPaxton #Trump #USPolitics

139d ago

🌊 Matt Gaetz’ Burner Account 🌊

@krisbouncedx.bsky.social

Ken Paxton heard on leaked audio, stating Trump’s presence around Republicans, “is not good”. The rats are jumping.

99d ago

Andrew Levesque

@andrewlevesque.bsky.social

www.commondreams.org/news/ken-pax... Texas maga US Senate nominee Ken Paxton privately conceded that trump’s big “Trumpapalooza” midterm convention in the state backfired politically…..

99d ago

Polymarket

@polymarket.com

BREAKING: Ken Paxton crashes in Texas Senate odds after leaked audio reportedly captures him blaming Trump’s convention for declining Republican poll numbers. 41% chance Paxton wins the race.

149d ago

Quoting this

John Collins319

Ken Paxton is one of the worst possible candidates I can imagine. Texas, do not elect this guy.

Mickey Kuhns

@mickeykuhns.bsky.social

Caught on leaked audio, Ken Paxton admitted Trump’s Dallas convention hurt GOP polling: “Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.” Apparently, kissing Trump’s ass doesn’t stop him from sinking your campaign. www.yahoo.com/news/politic...

119d ago

3 sources

newrepublic.comKen Paxton Caught Privately Trashing Trump in Leaked Audio rawstory.com'Not good for Paxton' as he may face fundraising bomb after trashing Trump behind his back aaronparnas.substack.comNEWS: Paxton Caught on Hot Mic Trashing Trump’s Convention, Trump Scrambles to Silence AI That Fact-Checks Him, Jack Smith Fallout Grows

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Leaked audio captures Ken Paxton privately trashing Trump

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