Ken Paxton admits Trump’s Iran war and fuel prices are hurting Republicans

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general and the Republican candidate in a competitive Senate race, acknowledged that Donald Trump’s war with Iran and high fuel prices were hurting his party ahead of November’s midterm election.

At a closed-door fundraising event, Paxton identified the war, gasoline and diesel as the issues weighing on his campaign. He said diesel prices above $6 per gallon were putting pressure on voters.

Paxton also called affordability Republicans’ “biggest problem” and said many factors in the federal race were beyond his control. Axios obtained and shared the recording.

Polling gives Democrats an edge

An Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that about 74% of Americans viewed economic conditions negatively, while 65% blamed Trump’s policies directly for higher costs.

Paxton is competing against Democrat James Talarico. Polls show a close contest, with Talarico holding a small lead.

Campaign calls recording a “non-story”

Paxton campaign spokesperson Madison Cercy said he had stated what Texans already knew: gasoline and diesel prices were too high and families were struggling. She said Trump was working to lower prices and that Paxton was proposing tax benefits for healthcare and housing costs.

Trump, who backed Paxton’s candidacy, is scheduled to appear with him at a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday evening.

The recording is the latest leaked audio in which Paxton has criticized his own party. Politico previously reported that he said Washington was controlling much of his campaign’s messaging, while The New York Times reported that Trump’s Republican convention had hurt his polling numbers.