Talarico Flips Texas Senate Seat for Democrats

Talarico won on November 3, and NBC News and other election desks also called the race for the Democrat. The result flips a seat held by Republicans and marks the first Democratic Texas Senate victory since Lloyd Bentsen won re-election in 1988.

Talarico, a state representative, former teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, campaigned on lowering costs, fighting corruption and limiting the influence of wealthy donors. He also emphasized faith and sought support from independents and Republicans uneasy with Paxton. Early voting data showed strong turnout in some counties and increased support for Democrats among Latino voters.

Paxton, Texas’s attorney general, ran as a supporter of President Donald Trump’s agenda. Trump endorsed him in the Republican primary over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and campaigned with him in Texas during October. Paxton’s record and personal controversies became major campaign issues; the Texas House voted to impeach him in 2023, and the state Senate later acquitted him.

The contest drew heavy spending and sharp advertising from both sides. Elon Musk-backed political spending supported Paxton, while Republican ads highlighted Talarico’s comments on gender and transgender issues. Democrats focused attacks on Paxton’s ethics record.

The Senate term begins in January 2027. In the Texas governor’s race, Democrat Gina Hinojosa was also leading Republican Greg Abbott, though by a narrower margin than Talarico’s lead over Paxton.

Texas Voters Reject Paxton and Trump’s Politics

Texas voters delivered Democrats a breakthrough, turning a Senate seat blue and rejecting a Republican nominee backed by President Donald Trump. Talarico won on November 3, ending Democrats’ long wait for a Senate victory in the state.

Talarico’s campaign centered on affordability, corruption and the influence of wealthy donors. He built an appeal around faith and a broader coalition, while early voting data pointed to strong turnout in some counties and increased support for Democrats among Latino voters. The result is a striking rebuke in a state Trump won by 14 points in 2024.

Trump chose Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary and later campaigned for Paxton. The attorney general’s controversies, including the Texas House’s 2023 impeachment vote and his acquittal by the state Senate, became a central liability. Republicans devoted substantial advertising to attacking Talarico’s positions on gender and transgender issues, but those attacks did not prevent his win.

The outcome hands Democrats a key Senate seat, with the new term beginning in January 2027. Gina Hinojosa was also leading Greg Abbott in the governor’s race, suggesting the Democratic gains could extend beyond the Senate contest.

Texas Elects Talarico as Democrats Ride Anti-GOP Wave

Democrats have captured a Texas Senate seat after a campaign that put progressive James Talarico against Republican Ken Paxton. Talarico won on November 3, handing the party a major prize in a state President Donald Trump carried by 14 points in 2024.

The result points to a broader midterm backlash, with high gas prices, inflation and an unpopular war among the concerns cited in the campaign coverage. Texas voters also showed a sharp shift from the state’s recent Republican performance. Gina Hinojosa was leading Gov. Greg Abbott in the governor’s race, while Talarico’s lead over Paxton was wider.

Republicans had backed Paxton despite his personal controversies and the state House’s 2023 impeachment vote, followed by his acquittal in the Senate. Trump endorsed Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn and campaigned for him in October. Paxton’s record offered Democrats an opening, but the result also reflects a wider Democratic turnout effort that could have challenged any Republican nominee.

Republicans spent heavily to support Paxton and attack Talarico, including ads focused on Talarico’s views on gender and transgender issues. The spending did not save the seat. Talarico takes office in January 2027, giving Democrats a crucial Senate pickup and leaving Trump’s party to contend with the consequences of a difficult midterm.