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Texas Democrats achieve historic victories in Senate, gubernatorial, and state House races

James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa flip top offices as party gains state legislative power

Published Nov 4, 2026 · 13:48 UTC491 reports

Latest update: James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton by over 12 percentage points and 1 million votes in the Texas Senate race.

The short version

  • James Talarico defeated state Attorney General Ken Paxton by over 12 percentage points, or more than 1 million votes, to win a U.S. Senate seat from Texas.[The Washington Sun · Fox News]
  • Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Governor Greg Abbott to become Texas' first Democratic governor since 1994.[The Guardian · The Hollywood Reporter · PBS NewsHour]
  • Democrats also gained control of the Texas House of Representatives for the first time since the 2002 election cycle.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The victories mark a sharp electoral shift in a state that Donald Trump won by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024.[The Guardian · Fox News]

Key facts

  • James Talarico defeated state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas U.S. Senate race by more than 12 percentage points and over 1 million votes.[The Washington Sun · Fox News]
  • Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Governor Greg Abbott, becoming the state's first Democratic governor since 1994.[The Guardian · The Hollywood Reporter · PBS NewsHour]
  • Democrats secured a majority in the Texas House of Representatives for the first time since the 2002 elections.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The results reversed a recent Republican advantage in Texas, where Donald Trump won by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024.[The Guardian · Fox News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.