James Talarico has won the Texas Senate race, defeating Republican Ken Paxton and securing a historic victory for Democrats in a state where the party had not won a Senate seat since 1988. The closely watched midterm contest could affect control of the Senate, where Republicans were defending a narrow majority.
The result is a setback for President Donald Trump, who supported Paxton. It also marks a sharp break in Texas politics: Trump carried the state by nearly 14 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, and Democrats had repeatedly fallen short in attempts to win statewide office. No Democrat had won any statewide Texas office since 1994.
Talarico, 37, is a state representative, former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian. His campaign focused on living costs, economic inequality, Christian faith and political unity. He sought support from independents and Republicans dissatisfied with the administration, arguing that economic pressures and the influence of wealthy donors mattered more to voters than partisan divisions.
Paxton, 63, is Texas attorney general and a close Trump ally. He won the Republican primary against incumbent senator John Cornyn. His campaign was also shadowed by past legal controversies: the Republican-controlled Texas House impeached him in 2023 over allegations of corruption and abuse of power, but the state Senate acquitted him. Separate securities fraud charges were resolved in 2024 through an agreement requiring community service, ethics training and restitution. Paxton denied wrongdoing.
The race was among the most expensive Senate contests in US history, with advertising spending exceeding $500 million, according to campaign spending estimates. Republican-aligned groups invested heavily in Paxton’s campaign, including funding linked to billionaire Elon Musk. Talarico’s campaign reported raising $64 million in the third quarter, with 97% of donations below $100.
Republican advertising focused on Talarico’s positions on transgender issues, his religious views and his interpretation of scripture; factcheckers challenged claims in some ads. Talarico, meanwhile, portrayed Paxton as corrupt and accused Republicans of distracting voters from rising fuel and everyday costs. His victory delivers a breakthrough for Democrats after years of close but unsuccessful statewide contests in Texas.
Sources: The Guardian World.