Talarico and Hinojosa Defeat Republican Holders in Texas

Media projections on Tuesday indicated that Democrats won the US Senate and governor’s races in Texas, ending a 32-year losing streak for the party in the state. State Rep. James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for the Senate seat, while state Rep. Gina Hinojosa unseated three-term Governor Greg Abbott.

The final results represent the first Democratic victory in a Texas statewide race since 1994. This marks the longest such drought in the nation. The outcome occurs in a state where President Donald Trump won by 14 percentage points in 2024.

Talarico, a four-term state legislator, secured the Democratic nomination after defeating US Rep. Jasmine Crockett. He then overcame heavy outside spending to win the general election, which became the most expensive Senate race of the cycle. Paxton, the Texas attorney general, had the backing of President Trump.

Republicans spent more than $316 million to keep the Senate seat. The party had previously viewed US Sen. John Cornyn as the stronger candidate, but he lost in a primary runoff after Trump endorsed Paxton. Paxton used his position to sue the Biden administration more than 100 times and faced controversies including a 2023 impeachment and a securities fraud case.

The Senate balance of power shifts with these results. Republicans held a 53-47 majority before Tuesday’s elections. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber. The Texas victories provide a major boost to that effort.

Hinojosa’s win over Abbott adds to the day’s Democratic gains in the state. Abbott had served as governor for three terms. The dual victories alter the political map in a region long dominated by Republicans.