Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has expressed concerns about the impact of the US war with Iran on his Senate bid.
What happened
In a private fundraising event in Washington, D.C., Paxton stated that high fuel prices resulting from the conflict are a major problem for his campaign. He attributed his polling struggles against Democrat James Talarico to the high cost of fuel, which he said is driving up food prices and other living expenses. Paxton noted that when diesel prices exceed $6 per gallon, people feel the financial strain.
Paxton's comments were recorded and leaked, marking the third major audio leak involving the Republican in recent weeks. The Senate hopeful acknowledged that cost of living concerns are his biggest challenge and the reason for his struggles in the polls. He also recognized that many factors in the federal race are beyond his control.
The audio leak comes as Paxton trails Talarico by 3.1 percentage points in the latest RealClearPolitics polling average. Despite being a Republican in a traditionally conservative state, Paxton's campaign has faced significant challenges, including a long history of scandal and controversy.
