Monday’s Campaign Round-Up, 10.5.26: Paxton complains D.C. operatives run his campaign

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* In Texas’ closely watched U.S. Senate race, Ken Paxton might be the state attorney general, but the scandal-plagued Republican recently complained about party operatives from Washington running his campaign operation.

“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. The candidate added, “I don’t control message or what we’re doing.”

NEW in @playbookdc: Ken Paxton in leaked audio vents over his campaign being run by DC:

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

“I’ve never been in a race where I felt less control over the campaign…it’s all coming — you know — from DC” pic.twitter.com/mnpUWMm6Y2

— Will Steakin (@wsteaks) October 5, 2026

A campaign spokesperson confirmed the validity of the recording but said Paxton was referring to the disconnect between his campaign operation and super PACs. Given the context and his choice of words, that explanation is tough to accept at face value.

As for the state of the race, the latest Fox News poll showed Democratic state Rep. James Talarico leading Paxton among likely voters, 51% to 49%, while the latest New York Times/Siena University poll found Talarico ahead, 51% to 45%.

* In Kansas’ closely watched U.S. Senate race, the Democratic nominee, the Rev. Adam Hamilton, continues to pick up support from prominent former Republican officials in the state. The latest is former Gov. Mike Hayden, who threw his support behind Hamilton in an op-ed for The Wichita Eagle.

The latest New York Times/Siena University poll, meanwhile, found Hamilton tied with Sen. Roger Marshall, the Republican incumbent, with each garnering 45% support.

* In a clear indication of what the electoral map looks like with four weeks remaining in the midterm cycle, the Senate Leadership Fund, the top super PAC for Senate Republicans, is scrapping its scheduled ads in North Carolina and making its first investments in Kansas.

Punchbowl News reported that key Republican entities, including Donald Trump’s super PAC, are also starting to scale back spending in Georgia, suggesting that many in the party expect Republican Rep. Mike Collins to lose to Sen. Jon Ossoff, the Democratic incumbent.

* Speaking of the president, Trump campaigned in Alabama on Friday night, and despite the fact that this has long been one of his strongholds, there were quite a few empty seats at the venue hosting his event.

* In Iowa’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, the latest New York Times/Siena University poll found Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson with the narrowest of leads over Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek, 48% to 47%, while the latest Fox News poll showed Turek with a small advantage, 49% to 47%.

* In Ohio’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, the latest New York Times/Siena University poll found former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown leading incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Husted, 49% to 46%.

In related news, Trump campaigned for Husted on Saturday in Ohio, where the president emphasized his support for data centers — an issue that has dogged the GOP senator for months, and which might ultimately cost him his seat.

* And in Alaska’s closely watched Senate race, the latest New York Times/Siena University poll found former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola leading the Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, 50% to 43%.

The post Monday’s Campaign Round-Up, 10.5.26: Paxton complains D.C. operatives run his campaign appeared first on MS NOW.