Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton privately told donors that the war with Iran and soaring fuel prices are hurting his campaign, according to audio obtained by Axios.
During a closed-door fundraiser in Washington last month, Paxton was asked which issues were dragging down his campaign. He responded that it was “the war, it’s gas prices, it’s diesel,” according to the recording.
“When it’s over $6 per gallon for diesel … people are feeling the pinch,” Paxton said, adding that higher fuel costs drive up food prices and other expenses.
Paxton described affordability as “by far our biggest problem” and said that was contributing to his campaign “having a hard time with numbers.”
The Republican candidate also acknowledged the limits of his ability to influence the issues he was discussing.
When an attendee suggested Paxton could not stop the war, he agreed. He also said he had “no control over gas prices” and described many of the factors affecting the Senate race as outside his control.
“So many factors in this federal race are uncontrollable. I don’t make the decisions,” Paxton said, according to the audio.
Campaign Calls It a “Non-Story”
Paxton’s campaign pushed back after Axios published the recording, saying the remarks simply reflected concerns Texans are already experiencing.
“This is a non-story,” a campaign spokesperson told Axios, arguing that Texans know gas and diesel prices are too high and that families are struggling with higher costs at the pump and grocery store.
The campaign also pointed to President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce prices and said Paxton would go to Washington to help put money back into Texas families’ pockets.
The comments come as Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico in one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 cycle.
A Difficult Message for a Trump Ally
Paxton is a close Trump ally, and Trump endorsed him in the Republican primary over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. The president traveled to San Antonio Wednesday to campaign alongside Paxton.
The timing of the recording is particularly notable because Paxton’s criticism centers on the same federal issues he says he cannot control. His remarks highlight the challenge facing candidates trying to campaign on affordability while also remaining aligned with the administration responsible for national policy on war and energy.
Energy costs have become a significant issue in several competitive congressional races. Gasoline prices have remained elevated while diesel has reached record levels, making fuel costs increasingly visible to voters and businesses.
The Paxton-Talarico contest has also attracted enormous outside spending. Axios reported that a Republican-aligned PAC had spent more than $131 million supporting Paxton or opposing Talarico by the beginning of October.
For Paxton, the leaked recording puts affordability at the center of his campaign message at a moment when voters are also being asked to evaluate the Trump administration’s handling of the economy, energy prices and the Iran conflict.
The campaign says the remarks merely acknowledge the economic pressures Texans are already facing. But the recording provides a rare glimpse into how Paxton privately describes the challenges facing his Senate bid.
