Campaign ‘all coming from DC,’ Paxton says

Campaign ‘all coming from DC,’ Paxton says - POLITICO

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Campaign ‘all coming from DC,’ Paxton says

“I don’t control message or what we’re doing,” Texas GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton said during a small fundraising event in September.

!Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, arrives to speak to supporters during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas.

*Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, arrives to speak to supporters during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. | Julio Cortez/AP*

By Dasha Burns and Will Steakin

10/05/2026 05:10 AM CDT

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Ken Paxton is less than a month out from the conclusion of a D.C.-outsider campaign for a Texas U.S. Senate seat that he privately admitted is being run by Washington.

“I’ve never been in a race where I felt less control over the campaign and, like, what issues are going to matter because it’s all coming — you know — from D.C.,” Paxton said during a small fundraising event last month, according to an audio recording obtained by POLITICO from a person in the room who does not support Paxton, and verified by another attendee.

“I don’t control message or what we’re doing.”

The lunch, hosted Sept. 24 in Washington by Chris Brinson and Susan Hirschmann of the D.C.-based lobbying firm Williams & Jensen, was attended by about a dozen people including Scott Kopple, VP of government relations at defense contractor BWXT.

* Senate: Texas
* Ken Paxton
* James Talarico
* John Cornyn
* Fundraiser
* Midterms
* 2026 Elections

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