Paxton privately admits Iran war and fuel prices are hurting Republicans

Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican nominee in a competitive US Senate race, has admitted at a closed-door fundraiser that rising fuel costs are hurting his party ahead of the midterms. The recording was shared by Axios.

Asked what was "dragging" his campaign down, Paxton answered that it was not tariffs but the war, gasoline and diesel prices. He said that with diesel above $6 a gallon, people feel the squeeze. He called affordability the Republicans' biggest problem heading into next month's election and cited polls showing Democrats ahead in many tight contests, including his own.

Campaign response

Paxton campaign spokesperson Madison Cercy described the comments as "a non-story". She said the attorney general had simply voiced what every Texan knows, that fuel prices are too high. According to her, President Donald Trump is doing all he can to cut prices, and Paxton would help in Washington by backing a larger child tax credit and bigger deductions for health care and home purchases. She also claimed that his opponent, James Talarico, would raise taxes.

Trump, who picked Paxton as the party's Texas Senate candidate, is due to appear with him at a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday evening.

Earlier leaks

The recording is not the first in which Paxton has criticised his own side. Politico reported that he told a closed-door event that forces in Washington were steering much of his campaign messaging. The New York Times reported that he said Trump's Republican midterm convention had lowered his poll numbers.

An Associated Press/NORC poll found about 74% of Americans rate the economy poorly, and 65% blame Trump's policies directly for higher costs. Paxton and Democrat Talarico are roughly level in polls, though Talarico holds a slim lead.