Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas U.S. Senate election on November 3, 2026. It was the first statewide win for a Texas Democrat since 1994 and the first U.S. Senate win for a Texas Democrat since 1988. Republicans spent over $280 million on advertising in the race, including over $200 million from Elon Musk, making it the most expensive U.S. Senate contest on record.
Where
Texas
When
November 3, 2026
Sources
Reported by 4 outlets
Taxes and money
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
Advertising spendingover $280 million1Who pays or receives it: Republicans
Advertising spendingover $200 million1Who pays or receives it: Elon Musk
Who's involved
James TalaricoDemocratic state representative from Austin, defeated Republican Ken Paxton in U.S. Senate race
Ken PaxtonRepublican Attorney General of Texas, defeated by James Talarico in U.S. Senate race
Donald TrumpPresident who endorsed Ken Paxton
Elon MuskSpent over $200 million on advertising for Paxton
The facts
Associated Press called the race for Talarico shortly after 10 p.m. on November 3.1
Talarico is a 37-year-old four-term state legislator from Austin and former middle school teacher.1
The race was the most expensive U.S. Senate contest on record.1
This was Texas Democrats' first statewide win since 1994.1
This was Texas Democrats' first U.S. Senate win since 1988.1
Talafreako’s rise up! James Talarico made history tonight as the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas since 1988. The Presbyterian seminarian defeated scandal-ridden Ken Paxton, the state attorney general and a close Trump ally. Paxton was
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.
Gina Hinojosa won election as Texas governor and another Democrat won U.S. Senate from Texas for the first time since 1988 and 1990 respectively. Gov.-elect Hinojosa stated she will maintain a freeze on new data center authorizations ordered by outgoing Governor Greg Abbott.
$nearly nine million dollars for campaign contributions
Gina Hinojosa, Governor-elect; Talarico, U.S. Senate-elect (first name not given); Jorge Renaud, Voter and 5 more
Texas senator-elect James Talarico made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live's cold open, interrupting a sketch about President Donald Trump's midterm loss. Comedian Druski hosted the episode with musical guest The Strokes.
James Talarico, Texas senator-elect who appeared in the cold open; Druski, Host of Saturday Night Live; James Austin Johnson, Actor playing Trump in cold open sketch and 2 more
Matthew Shane Zachary was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a homicide at a residence in Gaines County. The Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers are leading the investigation with assistance from the Gaines County Sheriff's Office.
$$750,000 for bond
Matthew Shane Zachary, Suspect arrested and charged with murder; Gaines County Sheriff's Office, Law enforcement investigating homicide; Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers, Leading the investigation
Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa said in a CNN interview that the state should pause work with data centers until protections for residents are in place. She promised to introduce laws to change the state's approach and said communities should have a role in deciding whether data centers are built there.
Democrats in the Texas Legislature filed legislation Monday as bill filing opened for the 2027 session. Proposals included Medicaid expansion, minimum wage increases, ending data center tax breaks, banning Flock cameras, repealing ICE partnership requirements for sheriffs, forbidding border wall construction at state parks, ending school vouchers, boosting per-pupil school funding, legalizing marijuana, and building high-speed rail from Dallas to San Antonio.
$up to $10 billion a year for medicaid expansion annual funding to Texas
State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, filed Medicaid expansion bill; State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed companion Medicaid bill; Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, filed school nurse notification bill and 3 more
El Paso County Sheriff's Office arrested 38-year-old Laron Lenard Watts and charged him with theft of property valued at $150,000 or more after he reportedly refused to return a shipment of fiber-optic cable, trailer, and container worth $155,000 total following a payment dispute.
$$155,000 for estimated value of property (shipping container, trailer chassis, fiber-optic cable)
Laron Lenard Watts, 38-year-old man arrested and charged with theft; El Paso County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement agency conducting investigation and making arrest
Texas is considering a moratorium on new data centers while studying their effects on the electrical grid. Researchers found that synchronized battery systems and data center backup power devices cause regular frequency drops in power grids, though not considered an immediate threat to stability.
Governor Greg Abbott, Governor; Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Grid operator; Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Regulatory body and 2 more