Ken Paxton Reportedly Slams Trump’s Midterm Convention Gambit: ‘Everybody’s Numbers Dropped’

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton privately said that the Republican National Convention (RNC) midterm convention hurt his Senate bid, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Audio captured Paxton saying Republicans’ numbers dropped after the convention, according to the Times. The alleged audio was shared with the Times by an attendee at a private fundraiser in Washington, D.C.

“So to be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention — it dropped our numbers. Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good,” Paxton reportedly said.

Nick Maddux, a senior Paxton adviser, disputed the remarks in the audio recording, calling it “more manipulated nonsense from The New York Times to create a story that doesn’t exist.”

“Our latest poll from the last week has Ken Paxton leading by three points, and every serious pollster will tell you that our numbers have improved since early September,” Maddux said. “Ken Paxton is going to win this race, and he looks forward to closing strong alongside President Trump including when he comes to Texas this week.”

Republican lobbyists Susan Hirschmann and Chris Brinson hosted an event Thursday in a conference room in Capitol Hill, according to the Times.

President Donald Trump criticized Paxton’s attire and looks during his second speech during the convention.

“Some may not like the way he dresses, I don’t,” Trump said. “He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen.”

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Vice President J.D. Vance did not mention Paxton during their speeches at the convention, although Vance targeted James Talarico, Paxton’s Democratic opponent, for stating God is “non-binary” and that there are “six genders.”