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Election Day was Nov. 3. Mail ballots postmarked on time are counted through 5 p.m. today. Elections

Elections Updated November 4, 10:00 am

Update, November 4. Updated November 4, 10:00 am Central with new reporting: 4 separate outlets now report this.

Democrats win Texas Senate seats and U.S. House control in 2026 midterms

In the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm elections, Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress and made significant gains in Texas, where James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate and Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott. Democrats also flipped House seats in gerrymandered districts and deep-red regions nationwide.

Where
Statewide
When
Nov. 3, 2026
Sources
Reported by 4 outlets

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • James TalaricoDemocratic candidate for U.S. Senate
  • Ken PaxtonRepublican Attorney General running for U.S. Senate
  • Gina HinojosaDemocratic candidate for Texas governor
  • Greg AbbottRepublican Governor running for reelection
  • Hakeem JeffriesHouse Democratic leader
  • Mike JohnsonHouse Speaker (Republican)
  • President Donald TrumpSitting president

The facts

  • Democrats won control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • James Talarico, Democrat, defeated Ken Paxton, Republican Attorney General, in the Texas Senate race.2 3 4 Stated by 3 sources
  • Gina Hinojosa, Democrat, defeated Greg Abbott, Republican Governor, in the Texas gubernatorial race.2 3 4 Stated by 3 sources
  • Democrats won control of the U.S. Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.2 4 Stated by 2 sources
  • As of early morning Wednesday, Talarico held 53.9% of the vote to Paxton's 44.2%.2 3 Stated by 2 sources
  • Hinojosa won by approximately 7% over Abbott as of 3 a.m. on Wednesday.2 3 Stated by 2 sources
  • By 11 p.m. on Election Day, Democrats had won 143 House seats called and Republicans 86 of 293 races.1
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged that Republicans lost the House in a speech from Shreveport.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson To keep the House, Republicans had to defy more than a century of midterm history.1
  • Polling and election analysts Democratic gains were expected, but results showed wider margins and bigger upsets than predictions.2 4
  • Fox News polls In October, Talarico and Paxton were nearly tied, with Abbott leading Hinojosa.2 3
  • Voters nationwide They were dissatisfied with Trump and the economy.2

Where the sources disagree

  • Size of Democratic House majority "largest majority in more than a decade" per [1]; "largest House majority in nearly two decades" per [2, 4]

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • Democrats poised to gain control of House after GOP shellacking

    New York Post

  • America saw the blue wave coming — but drastically underestimated the extent of the Dem tsunami

    Fox News

  • A blue wave sweeps America

    Mother Jones

  • Democrats poised to take control of Texas House, ending 24 years of GOP rule

    Austin American-Statesman

Sources

Outlets: 3 right-leaning, 2 not rated Only right-leaning outlets reported this Who's covering Texas →

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.

  1. Democrats poised to gain control of House after GOP shellacking New York Post Right, November 3, 2026
  2. America saw the blue wave coming — but drastically underestimated the extent of the Dem tsunami Fox News Right, November 4, 2026
  3. America saw the blue wave coming — but drastically underestimated the extent of the Dem tsunami Fox News Right, November 4, 2026
  4. A blue wave sweeps America Mother Jones Not rated, November 4, 2026
  5. Democrats poised to take control of Texas House, ending 24 years of GOP rule Austin American-Statesman Not rated, November 4, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

Spot an error on this sheet?

All corrections and updates

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James Talarico will take Senate office January 3, 2027

State Rep. James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton in Tuesday's U.S. Senate election. Talarico will officially assume office at noon on Jan. 3, 2027, when the 120th Congress convenes.

James Talarico, State representative, newly elected U.S. senator; Ken Paxton, Attorney General, defeated in election; John Cornyn, Republican incumbent senator, previously held the seat and 1 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Democrat Taylor Rehmet defeats Republican Leigh Wambsganss for Texas Senate District 9

Democrat Taylor Rehmet, the incumbent, defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss on November 3, 2026, in a race for Texas Senate District 9. This was a rematch of an earlier special election runoff.

Taylor Rehmet, Incumbent Democratic state senator, candidate for Texas Senate District 9; Leigh Wambsganss, Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 9; Kelly Hannock, Former Republican state senator who held the seat and left to serve as interim comptroller and 1 more

Reported by 3 outletsFound via Google News

Democrat Jared Williams wins Tarrant County Precinct 2 commissioner race

Democrat Jared Williams defeated Republican Tony Tinderholt in the race for Tarrant County Commissioners Court Precinct 2. Williams' victory gives Democrats a 3-2 majority on the commissioners court, and Precinct 4 was on track to flip as well, creating a potential 4-1 Democrat majority.

$227,234.80 for annual salary for Tarrant County Commissioners

Jared Williams, Democrat candidate, former Fort Worth City Council member; Tony Tinderholt, Republican candidate, Texas House member; Alisa Simmons, Democrat who won Tarrant County judge seat

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

South Texas Democrats Gonzalez and Cuellar win congressional reelection

Vicente Gonzalez, Democrat, won reelection to Congress from Texas' 34th District on Tuesday. Henry Cuellar, Democrat, won reelection from Texas' 28th District. Both overcame Republican challengers in traditionally Democratic South Texas districts that Republicans had redistricted to favor their party.

$3 million for ad spending pulled from District 28

Vicente Gonzalez, Democratic incumbent, Texas Congressional District 34; Eric Flores, Republican challenger, Texas Congressional District 34; Henry Cuellar, Democratic incumbent, Texas Congressional District 28 and 2 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

University of Houston student government event with Democratic gubernatorial candidate scrutinized

The University of Houston student government held a "get out the vote" rally featuring Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa and promoted it on an official UHSGA Instagram page using official U of H branding. The university acknowledged an error was made, prompting questions about potential violations of state law barring public universities from using public resources to support or oppose candidates.

University of Houston student government, held event; Gina Hinojosa, Democratic gubernatorial candidate who appeared at event; Christian Collins, Texas Youth Summit representative and 1 more

Reported by 3 outletsFound via Google News

Texas voters cast record early votes in 2026 midterm elections

Texas voters turned out for the 2026 midterm elections on November 3, 2026. More than 7.7 million votes were cast during early voting in Texas, setting a record. Turnout increases included more Latino and younger voters.

Noah Mata, Voter in Amarillo; Jerry Baldauf, Voter in Amarillo; Virginia Magallanes Dunn, Voter in Amarillo

Reported by 3 outletsFound via Google News

San Antonio residents celebrate after Democrats win statewide elections

On Tuesday night, crowds gathered in downtown San Antonio honking, cheering, and waving signs to celebrate Democratic victories in the governor and Senate races. Residents and tourists filled Commerce Street from City Hall to the River Walk, with vehicles circling blocks displaying campaign signs.

Gina Hinojosa, Democratic governor candidate who won election; James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate who won election; Cassandra Chavez, San Antonio resident celebrating and 6 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

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