Democrat James Talarico Projected to Win Texas Senate Race, Flipping Seat After 33 Years
Decision Desk HQ projects the 37-year-old state lawmaker will become Texas’ first Democratic senator since 1988 after a record-spending race.
- On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Democrat James Talarico defeated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race, flipping a long-held Republican seat and marking the first statewide Democratic victory in Texas since 1994.
- Paxton's campaign struggled under past scandals including a 2023 impeachment and securities fraud allegations, while Talarico ran a grassroots-funded operation emphasizing economic populism. Total spending exceeded $500 million by mid-October.
- Tech billionaire Elon Musk poured more than $200 million into Paxton's defense, yet AP Voter Poll data showed roughly two-thirds of voters questioned his character and integrity for Senate.
- Paxton conceded late Tuesday at a Dallas rally, stating, "I will commit that I will be praying for him, that he will do good for Texas and this nation." The result bolsters Democratic Senate strength.
- The victory positions Texas as a pivotal battleground for the 2028 presidential race, as the state's 40 electoral votes create a significant challenge for Republican national strategy moving forward.
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Talarico, Hinojosa flip Texas in historic 2026 election sweep
Shut out of power for decades, Democrats on Tuesday, November 3 romped up and down the ballot in Republicans' most populous stronghold, flipping a U.S. Senate seat and retaking the governor's mansion. Texas Democrats hadn’t won a statewide campaign since 1994.
Not even $200 million could help Elon Musk buy Texas
James Talarico, the Democratic Texas senator-elect, not only managed to flip the state in yesterday's midterms but prevailed in the most expensive Senate election to date. More than $573 million was spent on advertisements between Talarico, his Republican opponent Ken Paxton, and their aligned PACs. And a big chunk of that money came from just […]
The word earthquake is barely enough. For 24 years, Texas has been completely ruled by Republicans, but last night almost everything was turned upside down.
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