Ken Paxton just told a room of donors the hard truth. He says he does not control his own Senate race. The Texas Attorney General admitted he feels less in charge than ever. He blamed Washington for taking over his campaign. This is the man we elected to fight for Texas. Now he says DC runs the show. That is a problem for every voter who wants a local voice.
Paxton spoke at a lunch in the nation’s capital last month. The event was hosted by a lobbying firm. He told the crowd he cannot pick the issues that matter. He said, “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 DC,” according to the New York Post. He even said, “I don’t control message or what we’re doing.” It sounds like a boss who hired someone else to run his office.
The money pouring into this race is staggering. Republicans have spent more than $300 million to boost Paxton. A group called Texas PAC, linked to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has dropped $131 million. Yet the numbers are not looking good. Democrat James Talarico leads Paxton in the polls.
He has a 2.8 percentage point edge. This is in a state that usually votes red. The latest RealClearPolitics aggregate shows this tight gap. It seems the cash is not buying the support they need.
Paxton tried to explain the lack of control. He told the group he has “a little control over my bucket.” He added, “I don’t have the ability to change anything.” He knows he must live with whatever plan he gets. He called it a challenge. He hopes the polling will help them fix things.
He wants to make sure people see the difference between him and his opponent. But he admits he cannot change the strategy. The outside groups hold the reins. This is exactly what happens when you let big money run the show.
His team says they are just following the rules. Paxton adviser Nick Maddux told Fox News that campaigns do not coordinate with super PACs. He said, “Campaigns don’t coordinate with super PACs, and that’s obviously what AG Paxton was referring to.”
The law says outside groups cannot talk to candidates about spending. So Paxton claims he is just stuck with the system. But he also said, “So I have to live with whatever I’ve got. So it is a challenge.” That sounds like a man who lost his grip on his own future.
