Paxton adviser says the campaign's numbers have improved since early September
Nick MadduxSenior adviser to Paxton's Senate campaign
Maddux calls the Times report manipulated and says Paxton's numbers have improved since early September, contradicting the recorded remark that the convention dropped them.
Responding to
The Republican midterm convention in Dallas lowered Paxton's poll numbers and those of other Republicans.
“Every serious pollster will tell you that our numbers have improved since early September”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Paxton recorded saying Trump's Dallas convention 'dropped our numbers'; his campaign calls it manipulated
The New York Times published an audio recording on September 30, 2026, in which Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton tells donors at a private fundraiser that the Republican midterm convention in Dallas "dropped our numbers." Paxton's campaign called the recording "manipulated nonsense" and said its polling had improved, Paxton later said the clip did not reflect what he meant, and President Trump called the convention amazing. Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said it showed Trump was an anchor for Republican candidates.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Texas Tribune report on the audio recording published by The New York Times on September 30, 2026, in which Paxton tells a small group of donors and lobbyists at a fundraiser that the Dallas midterm convention "dropped our numbers." It includes the response of Paxton senior adviser Nick Maddux. The Tribune says it did not independently verify the Times' reporting.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Newsweek report on Paxton's October 11, 2026, appearance on Fox News' The Big Weekend Show, where he was asked about the recording, with a recap of the recording and earlier responses.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
In a statement, Maddux called the recording "more manipulated nonsense from the New York Times to create a story that doesn't exist."
After the quotation
He said Paxton is going to win the race and "looks forward to closing strong alongside President Trump" when Trump visits Texas that week.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Paxton's recorded remark that the Dallas midterm convention "dropped our numbers." Maddux says "our numbers have improved since early September", the opposite of what the remark describes, so we labeled it Denied. The closest competing label is Challenged characterization; it loses because he asserts a contrary fact about the polling rather than only disputing how the remark was described.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- The New York Times
More from this case
Read the full casePaxton says the clipped remarks are not what he meant
“So just because they were able to clip a few things doesn't mean that that's actually what I meant.”Read statement
Webb says Paxton was caught on tape saying Trump was hurting Republicans
“Reminder: Paxton was literally caught on tape saying Trump making the midterms all about himself was hurting Republicans, including Paxton.”Read statement
DNC chair Ken Martin calls Trump an anchor on Republican candidates
“They put Trump on full display and now they're shocked voters noticed. We told you the guy was an anchor. Thanks for insisting on tying him around the neck of every Republican on the ballot.”Read statement
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Paxton adviser says the campaign's numbers have improved since early September
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/5984-maddux-calls-the-times-report-manipulated-and-says
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The Dispute Index. "Paxton adviser says the campaign's numbers have improved since early September". First published: 2026-10-17. Last updated: 2026-10-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/5984-maddux-calls-the-times-report-manipulated-and-says