Texas voters elected Democrat Gina Hinojosa as governor and Democrat Nathan Johnson as attorney general on Election Day. Both have criticized outgoing Republican Governor Greg Abbott's immigration enforcement policies. Hinojosa is the first Mexican American elected governor of Texas; Johnson is the first Democrat elected attorney general since 1994.
Where
Statewide
When
Election Day 2026
Sources
One outlet
Taxes and money
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
Operation Lone Star spending$11 billion1Who pays or receives it: Texas
Texas-Mexico border barrier project funding$3.1 billion1Who pays or receives it: Texas Legislature
Who's involved
Greg Abbottoutgoing Republican governor who built state immigration enforcement system
Gina HinojosaDemocrat elected governor
Nathan JohnsonDemocrat elected attorney general
Ken Paxtonoutgoing attorney general
Kristin Etterdirector of policy and legal services at Texas Immigration Law Council
The facts
Greg Abbott spent nearly 12 years transforming Texas into a state-led immigration enforcement model.1
Abbott announced Operation Lone Star in March 2021 involving Texas DPS and National Guard.1
Abbott issued disaster declarations that allowed harsher criminal penalties on immigrants who crossed the border.1
Texas installed about 82.2 miles of border barrier as part of Operation Lone Star.1
Nathan Johnson is the first Democrat elected Texas attorney general since 1994.1
Gina Hinojosa is the first Mexican American elected governor of Texas.1
Democrats reclaimed support from voters in border counties, particularly the Rio Grande Valley.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Greg Abbott Operation Lone Star was necessary because the Biden administration implemented open-border policies.1
Gina Hinojosa Operation Lone Star needs to only exist to make us safer.1
Kristin Etter A new state governor cannot rewrite immigration laws, but Texas can make a difference in how it uses state resources.1
Business owners Arrests and deportations of undocumented people left some construction companies short of workers.1
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.
Democratic candidates with Christian messaging, including Texas seminarian James Talarico, won key seats in the U.S. Senate and House in the 2026 midterm elections. The victories included mainline Protestant candidates from Texas, Kansas, and Iowa.
James Talarico, Democratic seminarian candidate in Texas; Adam Hamilton, Megachurch pastor candidate in Kansas; Sarah Trone Garriott, Democratic minister candidate in Iowa and 2 more
Jon Rosenthal, a Democrat and state representative from Cypress, won election to the Texas Railroad Commission, breaking over 30 years of Republican control of all commission seats. He is a former mechanical engineer with 25 years in the energy industry and four terms in the state House.
Jon Rosenthal, Democrat elected to Texas Railroad Commission; Bo French, Rosenthal's opponent for the commission seat; Ben Shepperd, President of Permian Basin Petroleum Association and 2 more
Forty-six of forty-seven data center-related ballot measures voted on November 3, 2026 passed, with roughly 98% overall support for restrictions including bans, moratoriums, power usage caps, and resident approval requirements. Only Harwood, North Dakota rejected its measure.
Greg Abbott, Republican Governor of Texas who promoted data center recruitment; Gina Hinojosa, Democrat elected Governor of Texas, pledging data center moratorium; Austin McCarty, Attorney handling Texas data center matters at K&L Gates
Elon Musk spent an estimated $474 million on the 2026 midterm election, the most by any non-candidate in U.S. history. He spent approximately $200 million on a Texas Senate race where his candidate lost by 12 points to a Democrat.
$$474 million for spending on 2026 midterm election
Elon Musk, spent estimated $474 million on 2026 election; President Trump, received Musk's support; James Pindell, journalist reporting on Musk's spending and 1 more
Republican Tom Sell won Texas' 19th Congressional District seat for the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Democrat Kyle Rable. With 99% of votes counted, Sell received 69.5% and Rable received 30.5%.
Tom Sell, Republican candidate, projected winner of Texas' 19th Congressional District; Kyle Rable, Democratic candidate
Tejano singer and Latin Grammy winner Bobby Pulido defeated Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz in Texas Congressional District 15 during U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday, November 4, 2026. Pulido won 62% of the vote, flipping the seat from Republican to Democratic representation.
Bobby Pulido, Tejano singer, Latin Grammy winner, and Democratic congressional candidate who won the election; Monica De La Cruz, Republican incumbent in Congressional District 15 who lost the election
Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden announced formation of working groups made up of county election and registration officials to improve the Texas Election Administration Management (TEAM) system as redevelopment continues.
Robert S. Howden, Texas Secretary of State; County election and registration officials, Working group members
Democrat Sarah Eckhardt, a state senator, won the race for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, defeating appointed Republican incumbent Don Huffines. Eckhardt's victory flips the comptroller's office to Democratic control for the first time since 1999.
$$1 billion for Texas Education Freedom Accounts program budget allocation
Sarah Eckhardt, Democratic candidate for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, state senator; Don Huffines, Republican incumbent Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts