In Texas's November 2026 midterm elections, Democrats won statewide races for the first time in over 30 years. Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to become Texas' first Latina governor. James Talarico won the U.S. Senate race against Republican Ken Paxton. Democrats also captured lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller offices and won all four state Supreme Court justices' positions on the ballot.
Where
Statewide
When
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Sources
Reported by 5 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
Gina HinojosaDemocratic candidate who defeated incumbent Governor Greg Abbott
Greg AbbottRepublican Governor defeated in election
James TalaricoDemocratic candidate who won U.S. Senate race against Ken Paxton
Ken PaxtonRepublican candidate defeated in U.S. Senate race
Celeste Arriola18-year-old Latino voter in Austin
Jose BorjonLatino voter from Brownsville
The facts
Gina Hinojosa became Texas' first Latina governor, defeating Republican incumbent Greg Abbott.12Stated by 2 sources
James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race, first Democrat elected to Texas Senate in nearly four decades.23Stated by 2 sources
Democrats won every statewide race in Texas, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, and comptroller.13Stated by 2 sources
Democrats won all four state Supreme Court justices' positions up for election, changing the court from 9-0 to 5-4.3
Democrats likely won enough state House seats to control one chamber and make inroads into Senate majority.3
This marked the first time Democrats won statewide elections in Texas in more than three decades.12Stated by 2 sources
Talarico defeated Paxton by more than one million votes in the Senate race.3
Hinojosa was the first Democratic governor of Texas since Ann Richards left office in 1995.2
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Celeste Arriola, 18-year-old Latina voter in Austin The younger generation is changing Texas and this is just the first step.1
Celeste Arriola Hinojosa's election was meaningful because of the representation it brings to the state's highest office.1
Jose Borjon, Latino voter from Brownsville Hinojosa is going to be a great governor to everyone from Texas, from every demographic and part of the state.1
CNBC reporting Hinojosa campaigned for a pause on new data center projects until Texas adopts tougher rules.2
CNBC reporting Talarico repeatedly attacked Musk on the campaign trail, accusing him of trying to buy his personal U.S. Senator.2
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Texas Democratic Senator-elect James Talarico said he is ready to work with President Donald Trump on border security, lowering energy costs, cutting housing regulations, criminal justice reform, and legalizing marijuana. Talarico defeated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday.
$18 cents a gallon for federal fuel cost reduction from suspending federal gas and diesel taxes
James Talarico, Texas Democratic Senator-elect; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, defeated candidate; Donald Trump, President
Gina Hinojosa won the Texas governor race on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as part of a Democratic sweep of statewide offices. Hinojosa, 52, a state representative from Austin, became the first Latina governor in Texas history. Democratic victories were powered by Hispanic voters along the border counties, which saw an 8% increase in voter turnout, more than any other region in the state.
Gina Hinojosa, Governor-elect; James Talarico, State representative who energized border counties; Bobby Pulido, Tejano music star who energized border counties
During the November 2026 midterm elections, voters rejected data center-related ballot measures in nearly every jurisdiction where they appeared. Forty or more ballot measures across 10 states dealt with data center restrictions or approvals, with voters rejecting all but one.
Ohio voters, voted on 21 data center ballot measures; Sherrod Brown, Democrat elected to U.S. Senate; focused on data center issue; Greg Abbott, Republican incumbent governor of Texas and 3 more
Republican Chris Spencer won the Texas House District 1 special election, defeating Democrat Sean Huffman. Spencer, a Linden grocery store owner, will succeed outgoing Rep. Gary Vandeaver.
Chris Spencer, Republican candidate, Texas House District 1-elect; Sean Huffman, Democratic candidate; Gary Vandeaver, outgoing representative
After Election Day, election officials in Bexar County and across Texas process late-arriving mail ballots, provisional ballots, and corrected ballots before formally certifying results through a canvass process.
Juan Sepulveda, former Trinity University political science professor
Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Weber won re-election to Texas' 14th Congressional District on November 4, 2026, defeating Democrat Thurman Bill Bartie.
$152,618 for general election votes received
Randy Weber, Republican incumbent U.S. Representative, won re-election; Thurman Bill Bartie, Democrat challenger, former Port Arthur mayor; Jessica Forgy, Republican primary challenger
Texas voters along the Mexico border increased turnout by 8% compared to 2022 and voted overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates on Tuesday. The shift reversed border counties' 2024 support for Trump, and Democrats won two congressional seats Republicans had targeted for pickup.
James Talarico, State Rep., Democratic candidate at top of ticket; Jeronimo Cortina, Political scientist, University of Houston; Beto O'Rourke, Democratic candidate, 2018 election and 1 more
Democratic environmental activist Leticia Gutierrez won Texas Congressional District 9, a Houston-area seat redrawn last year to favor Republicans. Gutierrez led Republican Alexandra Mealer by about 4 percentage points, and Mealer conceded.
$$215,000 for campaign spending for Gutierrez
Leticia Gutierrez, Democratic candidate, won Congressional District 9; Alexandra Mealer, Republican candidate, conceded race; Al Green, U.S. Representative for District 9, previous holder