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Latin Times
Latin Times
Politics
Mateo Moreno

Paxton Caught on Tape: "The Convention Dropped Our Numbers" — Talarico Surges Ahead in Texas

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 21: Republican U.S. Senate candidate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a campaign event at Glorious Way Church on September 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Recent polls show Paxton's race against Democratic candidate James Talarico a toss up in the normally Republican-leaning state. (Credit: Photo by Antranik Tavitian/Getty Images)

A bombshell audio recording published September 30 captures Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton privately telling donors that the GOP midterm convention in Dallas "dropped our numbers" — as the latest polling places Democrat James Talarico ahead by as many as 6 points with barely a month remaining before Election Day.

A Talarico win on November 3 would mark the first Democratic Senate victory in Texas since 1988 — a result that would reshape the national political map and force a reckoning over whether Trump's endorsement carries the force he publicly claims.

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