Ken Paxton Talks U.S. Senate Race Over Beef Jerky, Draws Line at CNN Debate | TMZ DC

Ken, thank you very much for agreeing to do this, mate. I've been wanting to get to know you a lot, you know what I mean? You hear what people say, and I know what you guys are doing on your campaign. I've been there every step of the way. But I just wanted to get to know you as a guy as well. So I appreciate you having me here at Buc-ee's. Buc-ee's. I always say Buckeyes. Buc-ee's, I told you. Started by two Texans. Oh, is that right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It started by two Texans. What do you got here? You got some? I got some uh Buc-ee's beef jerky you want to try some I would like to try some yeah we'll both get some all right I got I got something thank you sir take whatever you want all right what do you think we're good pretty good I mean they make all kinds if you go in there did you go in there I haven't been yet when we're done you go in there they have like 30 different choices okay I like this choice I might just take your bag oh there we go hang on at the end of the interview I'll get some more okay had to swallow my bite um yeah I just like find it fascinating to be a candidate in your position um you know you must be feeling a lot of emotions um are you feeling any pressure for this moment such a big moment you know a republican hasn't lost you know the the senate seat in forever what i worry about is making sure that this state has a representation that isn't that isn't democratic socialists that would do great damage to the state. So I feel the responsibility of that. But as far as pressure of winning or losing, all I can do is go out and run the best race I can, communicate a message of what I believe in, what I've done, what my accomplishments are, versus his, which are none, other than trying to pass a bunch of really bad legislation that would have put boys and girls sports, or transitioned our kids, or created a state income tax, or Wouldn't secure the border, I mean, or destroy the oil and gas industry. None of which I'm for. I'm completely on the opposite end of every issue with him. And Texans need to understand, it's not about personality, it's about what have you accomplished for the people of Texas. Right. And in my case, I think it's a lot. Well, you're a stronger man than me. I'd be feeling like a bit of pressure and nerves and that sort of stuff. Hey, if you wake up on sort of like November 4th, the day after Election Day, and you look at your phone and it says, Ken Paxton, he won. What sort of emotions do you think you'll feel in that moment? I'll be excited to have the opportunity to represent Texas. I love this state. I moved here when I was 18, which is as soon as I could move here. Because my dad was in the Air Force and we traveled a lot and I had to go where they went. But this has been a great state for me. It's given me all the opportunities that my adult life has been. It's been really fantastic. To me, there's nothing more exciting than having the opportunity to represent the state of Texas in the United States Senate and then lead the country like it should be done. And conversely, like if you look at your phone and it says the other guy won, can you just tell me what sort of emotion do you think like you would feel in that moment? I know you don't want to think about it, but what do you think you'd feel? You know, you run a race for 19 months like I have, it'd be disappointing. There's no doubt about it, you'd feel disappointed. But you know what? I believe God has a bigger plan. So it's not all about me. It's all about what His plan is. And so either way, it's going to be just fine. Would you feel sort of like, you know, you stuck your neck out there and you didn't get it done and you feel like a bit like, you know, ashamed that, you know, you didn't get it done for the Republicans? No, I had, look, I know that I've worked hard and I know that we have done everything that we possibly could to make sure that we win this race. I truly believe we're going to win this race, but in the end, it's the voters that decide and I trust them. I trust that they will make a good decision. I believe in them. And so, you know what? We'll just see what happens on election day. Are you happy with where things stand right now? Could you have the election day tomorrow and you're like, I've said all I need to say, you guys get it, vote now. No, I'm ready to have my bus tour. Oh, you want the bus tour first? I'm on a 17-day bus tour, I'm in my fourth day. So no, I want the opportunity to get around the rest of the state of Texas one more time. We're going to every media market, every corner of Texas that we can in the 17 days. And I think it's important to get out there and have that last opportunity. convey the extreme differences between having a Marxist and somebody who believes in the Constitution. Do you want to debate him? Like, do you have the desire to or not? Look, if the terms were right, I'd have no problem. What are your terms? So, in terms of debating, I don't want to end up with a CNN reporter covering the debate. So, you know, I don't know what all the terms are, but I do know I don't want a CNN reporter covering our debate, which is what I initially was talking about. Last thing, Trump said a couple of weeks ago that you're ready, willing and able to debate. Is that still true? Yeah, it's always true. I love that. Well, good luck with the rest of the campaign. I appreciate you letting me tag along to a few different events, I've got a different perspective on politics by covering you, so I appreciate you having me and stopping here at a Buc-ee's. Yeah, great to be here. Thank you so much. Thank you for the jerky. Cheers, mate.