Paxton

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said a Republican midterm convention tied to Donald Trump 'dropped our numbers', suggesting the event dampened the party's polling or fundraising momentum ahead of the midterms. The remark has drawn attention as Republicans assess how closely to align with Trump heading into the election, with party figures openly debating the impact of his events on down-ticket performance.

Ken Paxton, the Trump loyalist and Republican Senate nominee in Texas, privately complained that the party's national convention damaged his campaign. In audio obtained by The New York Times, Paxton said that "everybody's numbers dropped" after the event, an unusual admission from one of the party's most prominent candidates during a key stretch of the race.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing renewed scrutiny over how he frames himself politically. Sidney Blumenthal argues Paxton leans on Christian identity politics to distract from a record of legal and ethical troubles, including impeachment by the Texas House in 2023 and ongoing securities fraud allegations. Commentators say the piece fits a wider debate about religion and accountability in Republican politics.

Sidney Blumenthal argues in The Guardian that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton leans on Christian identity politics to distract from a long history of scandal, including his impeachment, securities fraud accusations, and whistleblower disputes. The piece frames Paxton's religious framing as a deliberate shield for ethics controversies that have followed him throughout his political career.