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Ken Paxton, the Texas GOP Senate nominee endorsed by President Donald Trump, allegedly told donors at a private fundraiser that Trump's recent midterm convention in Dallas negatively impacted his political numbers. According to audio obtained by The New York Times, Paxton reportedly said, "When we did that convention—it dropped our numbers." This admission is significant as it reflects concerns among some Republican candidates about the potential detrimental effects of associating with Trump due to his low approval ratings and voters' economic worries.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Donald Trump held a midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on September 5-6, aiming to rally his Republican base ahead of the November 3 midterms that would decide control of the House and Senate. However, leaked audio from a private fundraiser revealed that Ken Paxton, Texas GOP Senate nominee, said the event hurt his numbers: "the numbers dropped" for everyone involved. This admission came two weeks after Trump's event despite his claims of success as “a solidly sold out winner.” Polls since then showed Democrats at 50.5 percent and Republicans trailing at 42.1 percent, a significant shift from the previous month. The leaked audio suggests deeper issues for Texas Republicans and the MAGA movement.
Written for “Trump Midterm Convention Backlash” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.
Ken Paxton heard saying Trump's GOP midterm convention hurt him: Report
Paxton has aligned himself with Trump, earning his primary endorsement.
Texas GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton told donors at a private fundraiser last week that President Donald Trump's midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month had hurt him politically, according to audio obtained by The New York Times.
uncertain
convention → hear → Times
In a recording, a person believed to be Paxton is asked, "Do you feel like he’s a little bit of a drag?"
asserted
he → believe → drag
It's not clear in the audio about whom the questioner is referring.
asserted
questioner → refer → whom
"So to be honest with you, the numbers -- when we did that convention -- it dropped our numbers.
asserted
it → do → numbers
Everybody’s numbers dropped.
asserted
numbers → drop → ?
Right now, yeah, not good," someone reported to be Paxton said in response to the question.
asserted
someone → report → question
Three other people with knowledge of the event confirmed to the New York Times that Paxton was at the private fundraiser -- with two of those people recalling Paxton's response about the GOP midterm convention.
asserted
two → confirm → convention
The Paxton campaign pushed back against the report, calling it "manipulated nonsense."
asserted
campaign → push → it
When ABC News asked specifically whether the campaign was claiming the audio was manipulated, the Paxton campaign did not respond.
asserted
campaign → ask → ?
ABC News reached out to the White House for comment, but did not receive a response.
asserted
News → reach → response
Paxton's comments are noteworthy, given how he has aligned himself with Trump, earning his endorsement ahead of the Texas Senate runoff earlier this year.
asserted
he → give → runoff
Trump backed Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary.
asserted
Trump → back → primary
A recent ReconMR Texas Poll found that the Senate race in Texas remains tight, as 49% of likely voters said they would vote for Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico if the election were held today and 43% said they would vote for Paxton.
asserted
they → find → Paxton
During the GOP midterm convention, Trump both praised Paxton and mocked him for his appearance.
asserted
Trump → praise → appearance
"He may not dress right, he may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I've ever seen.
uncertain
I → dress → ?
But you know what he is?
asserted
he → know → ?
He's the greatest attorney general in America, and he deserves to be your next senator," Trump said in early September.
asserted
Trump → deserve → September
Paxton's comments about the midterm convention also paint a larger picture of how some GOP candidates feel Trump's low approval rating, along with the political environment where voters are concerned about prices, could hurt them politically.
uncertain
voters → paint → them
Several Republicans running in competitive statewide and federal races are joining growing calls in their party to end the war in Iran, including battleground Senate candidates Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa and Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio.
asserted
Republicans → run → Ohio
Trump is scheduled to travel to Texas later this week to deliver economic remarks at a truck manufacturing company -- a visit that comes five weeks before Election Day and as Texas is home to many key races.
asserted
Texas → schedule → races
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