Democrats flip Texas as Talarico, Hinojosa elected Senator, Governor

Democrat James Talarico has won the closely watched Texas Senate race, defeating Republican Ken Paxton, the 51st Attorney General of Texas since 2015.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University, 37-year-old Talarico has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2018.

In his victory speech, Talarico likened the contest to David and Goliath, stating that his campaign confronted President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and other powerful forces in the United States capital.

“In this race, we went up against the richest man in the world, the most powerful man in the world, and the entire Washington, D.C. establishment,” he said.

“David wasn’t as big or as strong as Goliath, but he had hope, he had faith, and he had a slingshot. You, the people of Texas, were my slingshot. And tonight we defeated Goliath.”

Incumbent Texas Senator John Cornyn has congratulated Talarico on his election, saying he looks forward to meeting him and offering his assistance as he prepares to serve Texans in the Senate.

Gina Hinojosa also beat Republican Governor Greg Abbott, becoming the first Latina governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since Ann Richards lost her 1994 reelection bid to George W. Bush.

Hinojosa, 52, has represented the 49th district of the Texas House of Representatives since 2017. She was a labor and civil rights lawyer before becoming a state legislator.

The Democratic Party has secured major victories in several other states, flipping at least six Senate seats previously held by Republicans, and winning full control of the US Congress.

The 2026 midterms were defined by voter dissatisfaction over governance concerns and economic pressures, particularly trade policies and the war in Iran, which pushed up gas and diesel prices.