Trump-backed Ken Paxton admits Iran war, fuel prices hurt his Texas Senate bid – Report | Today’s news
Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton has privately acknowledged that the war in Iran and rising fuel prices are causing trouble for his campaign, telling donors and lobbyists that several factors affecting the race are beyond his control, Axios reports.
Paxton, the Texas attorney general and a close ally of President Donald Trump, made the remarks during a closed-door fundraiser in Washington, DC, last month, according to the report.
Axios said it obtained an audio recording of the meeting from an attendee who opposed Paxton and was granted anonymity because the event was private.
“It’s a War, It’s Gas Prices”
Asked what issues were weighing on his campaign, Paxton said the issues were not tariffs, but the war and rising gas and diesel prices, according to a transcript obtained by the news site.
He specifically pointed to diesel prices above $6 a gallon, saying consumers are feeling the pinch of higher fuel costs and contributing to higher food prices and other expenses.
Paxton described affordability as the biggest issue facing his campaign, linking it to problems with his polling numbers.
“I don’t make decisions”
When one panelist remarked that Paxton couldn’t stop the war, the Republican candidate agreed, saying he had no control over gas prices.
He also admitted that several factors influencing the federal Senate race were beyond his control.
“I don’t make the decisions,” Paxton said, according to the outlet, adding that he didn’t know what was behind some of the decisions.
Paxton proposes tax cuts for affordability
Paxton pointed to his proposed tax cut plan as a way to address affordability concerns.
The plan includes new deductions related to housing and health care, as well as an expansion of the child tax credit, Axios reports.
“I’m just trying to figure out ways I can help people,” Paxton said, adding that his role will be to draft legislation.
Campaign dismisses remarks as ‘non-story’
Paxton’s campaign dismissed the significance of those comments, telling Axios that the attorney general was simply acknowledging the high cost of gasoline and diesel and the pressure those prices are putting on Texans.
The campaign said Trump was working to lower prices and said Paxton would go to Washington to support that effort while trying to put more money in families’ pockets.
Trump went on the campaign trail with Paxton
Trump is scheduled to hold a rally with Paxton in San Antonio on Wednesday.
Paxton is running against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico after defeating Republican Sen. John Cornyn in the May primary.
A Talarico victory would mark the first time since the 1980s that a Democrat has been elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas.
Paxton was among Trump’s staunchest political allies. Trump endorsed Paxton during the Republican primary despite calls from Senate Republicans to endorse Cornyn.
