Following Texas midterm election results, observers say prospects for legalizing sports betting in Texas have improved. Democrat Vikki Goodwin defeated Republican Dan Patrick for Lieutenant Governor, and Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott for Governor. Texas is among 11 U.S. states where sports betting remains illegal.
Where
Statewide
When
Nov. 3, 2026 (election day)
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
Jerry JonesDallas Cowboys owner
Vikki GoodwinDemocrat, elected Lieutenant Governor
Dan PatrickRepublican, defeated in Lieutenant Governor race
Gina HinojosaDemocrat, elected Governor
Greg AbbottRepublican, defeated for Governor
The facts
Texas is one of 11 states where sports betting is not legal.2
Vikki Goodwin defeated Dan Patrick in the Lieutenant Governor race.2
Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott in the Governor race.2
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
MARCA Patrick and Abbott were against sports gambling.2
Jerry Jones Endorses legalized sports gambling in Texas.1
MARCA Sports betting legalization could grow Dallas Cowboys' value through partnerships and betting revenue.2
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Cowboys' Jerry Jones endorses legalized sports gambling in Texas after midterm elections
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.
In the November 3, 2026 election, Democrats won enough State Board of Education races to appear poised for an 8-7 majority on the 15-member board, marking the first Democratic majority in more than 30 years. One race faces a possible recount. The board sets curriculum standards for Texas public schools and approves instructional materials.
James Talarico, Candidate who won U.S. Senate race; Gina Hinojosa, Candidate who defeated Governor Greg Abbott; Vikki Goodwin, Candidate who unseated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and 4 more
A voter poll conducted for AP and news organizations found 56% of surveyed voters said data centres were a crucial or major factor in their vote in the US midterms. The poll also found 76% would oppose new data centre construction in their community, with stronger opposition among Democratic voters.
$$5 billion for monthly spending on building data centres (inflation-adjusted), August 2026
AP and news organizations consortium, Conducted voter poll on data centre concerns; BBC Verify, Analyzed data centre role in campaign and election outcomes; Pew Research, Conducted polling on public views of data centres and 3 more
Political advertising analytics company Kinetiq Political Insights released research showing Republicans outspent Democrats on TV, radio and digital advertising during the 2026 midterm elections, though Democrats reached swing voters at lower cost.
$nearly $3 billion for republican political advertising spending on TV, radio and digital
Kinetiq Political Insights, political advertising analytics company that conducted research; National Media Insights, research firm that analyzed advertising efficiency; James Talarico, Democratic candidate who won Texas U.S. Senate race
Fox News host Jesse Watters said on his November 5 show that if Texas remains a Democratic state, a Republican will never win the White House again. He made the comments after November 2026 midterm elections in which Democrats won statewide office in Texas, including James Talarico's Senate victory and Gina Hinojosa's gubernatorial win.
Jesse Watters, Fox News host; James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate; Ken Paxton, Republican state attorney general running for Senate and 2 more
James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and Texas state representative, won a U.S. Senate seat in the midterm election on November 3, 2026. He ran with a Christian message emphasizing caring for neighbors and challenging systems that require charity. His victory was part of a broader Democratic gain in which clergy candidates and other religiously-focused Democrats flipped control of Congress.
James Talarico, Texas state representative and Presbyterian seminarian; Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; Adam Hamilton, Megachurch pastor; Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Kansas; Sarah Trone Garriott, Iowa minister; Democratic U.S. House candidate and 3 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