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Elections Updated October 10, 12:15 am

Leaked audio shows Paxton saying Cornyn not helping his Senate campaign

Audio recording obtained by CNN captured Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican Senate candidate, saying at a September 24 fundraiser in Washington that Senator John Cornyn was not helping his campaign and wanted him to lose. Paxton recounted a Dallas restaurant encounter where Cornyn allegedly said Republicans needed to teach others a lesson through consequences. Cornyn's representative denied the restaurant conversation occurred.

Where
Statewide
When
Sept. 24, 2026
Sources
Reported by 6 outlets

Taxes and money

The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.

  • Republican spending in Texas general electionwell over $100 million4 5 Who pays or receives it: Republicans

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Ken PaxtonTexas Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate
  • John CornynOutgoing U.S. Senator from Texas
  • Rob JesmerRepresentative for Senator Cornyn
  • James TalaricoDemocratic state representative running against Paxton in Senate race
  • CNNObtained audio recording from attendee

The facts

  • Paxton made comments at a Sept. 24 fundraiser in Washington about Cornyn's support.4 5 Stated by 2 sources
  • Audio recording was obtained by CNN from an attendee who opposes Paxton.4 5 Stated by 2 sources
  • Paxton said Cornyn wanted him to lose and was not helping his campaign.4 5 Stated by 2 sources
  • Paxton publicly said he would love to have Cornyn's support after their primary runoff.4 5 Stated by 2 sources
  • Cornyn's representative denied the restaurant conversation Paxton described occurred.5
  • Talarico is the Democratic candidate Paxton faces in the Senate race.4 5 Stated by 2 sources
  • Trump stood behind his endorsement of Paxton following the leaked audio.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Ken Paxton Cornyn clearly not helping, wants me to lose.4 5
  • Ken Paxton Cornyn told a friend that Paxton would lose and Republicans need to learn consequences.4 5
  • Rob Jesmer (Cornyn representative) Restaurant conversation with Paxton's account did not happen.5
  • Rob Jesmer (Cornyn representative) If Cornyn wanted Paxton to lose, he would be more active in campaign.5

Where the sources disagree

  • Whether a Dallas restaurant conversation between Cornyn and Paxton's friend occurred Paxton said it happened per [4,5]; Cornyn representative Jesmer said it did not happen per [5]

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • Trump Asked Whether He Regrets Ken Paxton Endorsement After Leaked Audio

    Yahoo

  • Trump Defends Ken Paxton After Leaked Recordings, Says He Has ‘No Regrets’

    Yahoo

  • Trump has 'no regrets' endorsing Ken Paxton for Senate in Texas, even after a new audio leak

    CNN

  • ‘He wants me to lose’: Paxton complains about lack of support from Cornyn in leaked audio

    news8000.com, CNN, Yahoo News Singapore

  • Ken Paxton Says John Cornyn Wants Him to Lose Texas Senate Race

    mezha.net

  • Audio obtained by CNN captures Paxton saying Cornyn wants him to lose

    CNN, Modern Ghana

  • Leaked Audio Shows Ken Paxton Complaining About John Cornyn’s Support

    Yahoo

  • Paxton caught complaining about Cornyn’s lack of support in another leaked audio: ‘Wants me to lose’

    Washington Examiner

Sources

Outlets: 4 left-leaning, 1 not rated Only left-leaning outlets reported this Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Trump Asked Whether He Regrets Ken Paxton Endorsement After Leaked Audio Yahoo Lean Left, October 7, 2026
  2. Trump has 'no regrets' endorsing Ken Paxton for Senate in Texas, even after a new audio leak CNN Lean Left, October 8, 2026
  3. Trump has 'no regrets' endorsing Ken Paxton for Senate in Texas, even after a new audio leak CNN Lean Left, October 8, 2026
  4. ‘He wants me to lose’: Paxton complains about lack of support from Cornyn in leaked audio news8000.com Not rated, October 9, 2026
  5. ‘He wants me to lose’: Paxton complains about lack of support from Cornyn in leaked audio Yahoo News Singapore Lean Left, October 9, 2026

Also reported by mezha.net, Washington Examiner, NJ.com, Cleveland.com, MassLive.com, MLive.com, Modern Ghana, HuffPost, Yahoo News New Zealand, Newser, Newsweek.

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

Spot an error on this sheet?

All corrections and updates

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Reported by 5 outletsFound via Google News

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Reported by 4 outletsFound via Google News

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