James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa Win, Flip Texas Blue
By Brian McManus, Courier Texas
James Talarico won the most expensive U.S. Senate race in American history, and Gina Hinojosa triumphed over Greg Abbott to become Texas’ next governor, marking the first statewide Democratic wins in over three decades. The outcome of Texas’ blue wave also helped Democrats win control of the US House and Senate. Five of the most competitive House races in the country are in San Antonio and South Texas, most of them in districts Republicans redrew last year at President Donald Trump’s urging.
Here’s what Courier Texas is watching.
US Senate: Ken Paxton (R) vs. James Talarico (D)
At 8:42 p.m. local time, VoteHub called the election for Democrat James Talarico, who defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the race for Texas’ US Senate seat.
Talarico becomes the first Democrat to win a US Senate race in Texas since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988. He overcame record spending against him, much of it from billionaire Elon Musk. His win makes him the first Democratic senator in Texas since 1994.
Talarico, an Austin state representative and former middle school teacher, narrowly led in most recent polls, while a Fox News poll found the race tied.
Texas Governor: Greg Abbott (R) vs. Gina Hinojosa (D)
Democrat Gina Hinojosa has defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the race for Texas governor, according to multiple outlets.
Hinojosa becomes the first Democrat elected governor of Texas since Ann Richards in 1990. She ousts a three-term incumbent who outspent her 8-to-1 and raised tens of millions of dollars, including from data center and tech executives. She’ll take office facing a Republican-controlled Legislature.
With 67% of votes in, Hinojosa leads the race with 57% of the vote.
Lt. Governor: Dan Patrick (R) vs. Vikki Goodwin (D)
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is favored to win a fourth term over Democrat Vikki Goodwin. Patrick presides over the Texas Senate and controls which bills reach the floor, and he has used that power to pass conservative priorities, including the state’s school voucher program. Goodwin, a state representative from Austin, is trying to become the first Democrat elected lieutenant governor since Bob Bullock in 1994.
Texas Attorney General: Mayes Middleton (R) vs. Nathan Johnson (D)
Democrat Nathan Johnson has defeated Republican Mayes Middleton in the race for Texas attorney general, according to The Texas Tribune, which called the race for Johnson at 10:10 p.m. CST.
Johnson becomes the first Democrat elected attorney general since Dan Morales in 1994. His win hands Democrats control of the state’s top legal office after nearly three decades of Republican leadership.
Texas Comptroller: Don Huffines (R) vs. Sarah Eckhardt (D)
Democrat Sarah Eckhardt has defeated Republican Don Huffines in the race for Texas comptroller, according to The Texas Tribune, which called the race for Eckhardt at 10:46 p.m. CST.
Eckhardt, a former Travis County judge, will oversee, in part, the state’s new school voucher program, which she and Democrats have largely opposed. It’s a historic win, as Eckhardt becomes the first Democrat in decades to take over the state’s finance office. With roughly 82% of votes in, the current state Senator had nearly 52% of the vote.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner: Nate Sheets (R) vs. Clayton Tucker (D)
Republican Nate Sheets and Democrat Clayton Tucker are facing off to oversee the state’s farm and ranch programs and school lunches as Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Sheets, the founder of Nature Nate’s honey, ousted Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in the March primary with Abbott’s endorsement, and Miller has since urged voters not to back him, the Texas Tribune reported.
Tucker, the secretary of the Texas Farmers Union and a member of a Lampasas ranching family, has campaigned against large AI data centers and challenged Sheets’ eligibility, arguing his honey business doesn’t meet the state’s requirement that the commissioner work in agriculture.
Texas’ 34th Congressional District: Vicente Gonzalez (D) vs. Eric Flores (R)
Democratic US Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has defeated Republican Eric Flores in the race for Texas’ 34th Congressional District, according to NBC News, which called the race for Gonzalez at 8:24 p.m. CST.
Gonzalez wins a sixth term in a district Republicans redrew specifically to defeat him. His win is a setback for the GOP’s mid-decade redistricting push and a sign that its gains with Hispanic voters in South Texas were temporary.
Texas’ 23rd Congressional District: Brandon Herrera (R) vs. Katy Padilla Stout (D)
Republican Brandon Herrera and Democrat Katy Padilla Stout are competing in a tight race for the open seat in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, which became vacant when Republican US Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned in April amid a sexual misconduct scandal. Herrera, who twice challenged Gonzales in Republican primaries, became the nominee when Gonzales dropped out before their runoff. Padilla Stout is a child welfare attorney and first-time candidate. Read Courier Texas’ preview.
Texas’ 35th Congressional District: Carlos De La Cruz (R) vs. Johnny Garcia (D)
Republican Carlos De La Cruz is favored over Democrat Johnny Garcia in Texas’ 35th Congressional District, which Republicans moved out of Austin and redrew from southern Bexar County into more conservative Guadalupe, Wilson, and Karnes counties. The Cook Political Report rates the open seat as leaning Republican.
De La Cruz, an Air Force veteran endorsed by Trump, is the brother of US Rep. Monica De La Cruz. Garcia, a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy who calls himself a “Blue Dog” moderate, has campaigned on household costs. Read Courier Texas’ preview.
Texas’ 28th Congressional District: Henry Cuellar (D) vs Tano Tijerina (R)
Democratic US Rep. Henry Cuellar has defeated Republican Tano Tijerina in the race for Texas’ 28th Congressional District, according to NBC News, which called the race for Cuellar at 11:17 p.m. CST.
Cuellar wins another term in a district Trump carried in 2024, extending more than two decades in Congress.
Texas’ 15th Congressional District: Monica De La Cruz (R) vs. Bobby Pulido (D)
Latin Grammy-winning Tejano singer and Democrat Bobby Pulido has defeated Republican US Rep. Monica De La Cruz in the race for Texas’ 15th Congressional District, according to DecisionDeskHQ, which called the race for Pulido at 9:58 p.m. CST.
Pulido flips a district Trump won by double digits in 2024, ousting a Republican who first won the seat in 2022.
Texas Railroad Commissioner: Jon Rosenthal (D) vs. Bo French (R)
In the race for Texas Railroad Commissioner, Democrat Jon Rosenthal has won over Republican Bo French. Decision Desk HQ called the election at 11:21 p.m. CST, with Rosenthal defeating French with 53% of the vote.
