Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Paxton Says Iran War and Fuel Costs Hurt Senate Campaign
Ken Paxton is running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.
At a private fundraiser, he reportedly said the Iran war and high gas and diesel prices were making his campaign harder.
He said affordability was the campaign’s biggest problem.
He pointed to diesel costing more than $6 per gallon and said higher costs affect consumers.
Paxton said he does not control the war or fuel prices.
He mentioned tax deductions and a larger child tax credit as ways he might help families.
His campaign said the comments were not a big story and that President Donald Trump was working to lower prices.
Paxton is running against Democrat James Talarico.
Trump was scheduled to campaign with Paxton in San Antonio.
Leaked audio reported by Axios captures Paxton linking his campaign difficulties to the Iran war and rising fuel prices.
Paxton reportedly called affordability his campaign’s biggest problem and tied it to difficulties with his polling numbers.
He cited diesel prices above $6 per gallon and said he could not control the war or fuel costs.
Paxton described housing and healthcare deductions and an expanded child tax credit as parts of his tax-cut plan.
His campaign called the comments a non-story; Paxton is running against Democrat James Talarico after defeating John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff.
- Who
- Ken Paxton, Republican Senate nominee for Texas, and his Democratic opponent, James Talarico.
- What
- Paxton reportedly told fundraiser attendees that the Iran war and high fuel prices were hurting his campaign and that affordability was its biggest problem.
- When
- At a fundraiser last month; the reports describe a separate recording leaked the previous week.
- Where
- The fundraiser was in Washington, D.C.; Paxton is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas.
- Why
- Paxton linked rising fuel costs and broader affordability concerns to difficulties with his campaign and polling numbers.
Paxton’s account of campaign challenges
Campaign’s response
Impact of the war and fuel prices
Paxton’s account of campaign challenges
Paxton reportedly told fundraiser attendees that the Iran war and rising gas and diesel prices were weighing on his campaign, with affordability its biggest problem.
Campaign’s response
His campaign said he was acknowledging the high cost of fuel and its pressure on Texans, and called the remarks a non-story.
What can be done about prices
Paxton’s account of campaign challenges
Paxton said he did not control the war or fuel prices and described factors in the federal race as beyond his control.
Campaign’s response
His campaign said President Donald Trump was working to lower prices and that Paxton would support those efforts in Washington.
- Candidate
- Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general and Republican Senate nominee
- Opponent
- Democratic state Representative James Talarico
- Reported setting
- A closed-door fundraiser in Washington, D.C., last month
- Fuel price cited
- Diesel prices above $6 per gallon
- Affordability proposal
- Paxton cited housing and healthcare deductions and an expanded child tax credit
- Campaign response
- The campaign called the comments a non-story and said Trump was working to bring prices down
- Other campaign remarks
- In a separate leaked recording, Paxton reportedly said the GOP midterm convention had lowered his numbers
- Upcoming event
- Trump was scheduled to campaign with Paxton in San Antonio on Wednesday
