Democrat James Talarico Projected to Win Texas Senate Race, Flipping Seat After 33 Years
Decision Desk HQ projects James Talarico will become Texas’ first Democratic senator in decades after a race shaped by record turnout and heavy outside spending.
- On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Democrat James Talarico held an early lead over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for Texas' open U.S. Senate seat as the first results began coming in.
- The most expensive non-presidential race in U.S. history, with $573.2 million in ad spending, could determine control of the Senate through the end of President Donald Trump's second term.
- More than 7.7 million Texans voted early, a 40.5% turnout rate reflecting efforts to break a three-decade streak of Democratic losses in statewide Texas elections.
- National GOP groups poured north of $281 million into an advertising blitz supporting Paxton, whom President Trump endorsed earlier this year to replace retiring Sen. John Cornyn.
- With most Election Day ballots still uncounted, the race remains too close to call as Democrats need to gain four seats nationwide to shift control of the upper chamber from Republicans.
284 Articles
284 Articles
Talarico Flips Senate Seat in Texas for Democrats
The Democratic Rout Rolled on into Texas Tuesday night: James Talarico flipped a Senate seat, defeating Republican Ken Paxton to pull off the first statewide victory in more than 30 years and sending a jolt through a long time GOP stronghold that President Trump carried by double digests just two years...
CORNyn CONGRATULATES TALARICO: Texas GOP Civil War Hands Senate Seat to Democrats
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) congratulated Democrat James Talarico on his projected Senate victory over Attorney General Ken Paxton, capping a bruising primary fight that saw Trump endorse against Cornyn and Republicans lose a seat they've held for decades.
The Democratic candidate for the Senate managed to "steal" the seat from the Republicans, a defeat for Trump who had invested heavily in the State.
Who Is James Talarico? The Teacher Turned Seminarian Who Defeated Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Showdown
James Talarico has defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas' US Senate election, turning a campaign focused on affordability and tackling political corruption. The 37-year-old state legislator and former teacher won the race to succeed Republican Senator John Cornyn. The result makes him the first Democrat elected to a Texas US Senate seat since 1988, transforming his profile from a prominent state lawmaker into a national political figure. But b…
‘Politics of love’ wins: Talarico ousts Paxton in Texas Senate upset, dealing blow to Trump and Musk
WASHINGTON, Nov 4 — Democrat James Talarico, a former schoolteacher and Presbyterian seminarian who campaigned on a “politics of love,” won the US Senate race in Texas,...
Elon Musk spent more than $200 million to support the Republican candidate, but it didn't get him much.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
