Democrats have ended nearly three decades of Republican dominance in Texas after James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton in the United States Senate race, while Gina Hinojosa unseated Governor Greg Abbott in a historic electoral breakthrough.
The victories on Tuesday marked the first time Democrats had won statewide elections in the deeply conservative southern border state since 1994, dealing a major setback to President Donald Trump and his allies.
Talarico, a former schoolteacher and Presbyterian seminarian, defeated Paxton, a close Trump ally who received substantial backing from billionaire Elon Musk.
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The result also dealt a blow to Trump, who endorsed Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary and made Texas a major campaign priority, visiting the state four times in the month before the election.
Addressing supporters at a victory rally in Austin, the state capital, Talarico declared, “We defeated Goliath.”
The 37-year-old added, “In this race, we went up against our own Goliaths. The richest man in the world, the most powerful man in the world, and the entire Washington, DC establishment.”
Talarico criticised wealthy individuals and powerful institutions for influencing American politics, accusing billionaires of controlling social media algorithms, cable news networks and politicians.
He said such interests wanted Americans divided and fighting against one another.
The victories could signal a major political shift in Texas, the second-most populous US state, which has 40 electoral votes and has traditionally been a Republican stronghold.
“This is a win the size of Texas and now we have a mandate the size of Texas,” Talarico said.
Hinojosa, a 52-year-old lawyer and state legislator, defeated Abbott, who had held the governorship since 2015.
The Democratic victories were attributed partly to voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s military campaign in the Middle East, rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of everyday goods.
Thousands of supporters gathered at a watch party in Austin to celebrate the results, with many crying and embracing as the victories were announced.
Some chanted “Si se puede”, meaning “Yes, we can” in Spanish, while motorists honked their horns in celebration.
An Austin resident, Kathy Jackoway, said Talarico’s victory was significant for the country.
“It’s a huge win for Texas, but it’s a giant win for the United States, having James Talarico in the Senate to try to wrest control of this government that's out of control,” she said.
“Everybody is suffering. Everybody is hurting, and Trump is busy building monuments to himself.”
Another supporter, Anisha, 29, said she hoped the two Democrats would govern inclusively.
“I hope they govern for everyone, not just the billionaires, not just the elite,” she said.
The outcome also represented a setback for Musk, who reportedly spent more than $200m supporting Paxton, according to federal filings.
Musk, the world’s richest man, has relocated the headquarters of Tesla, SpaceX and X to Texas.
The growing presence of artificial intelligence data centres in the state was a major campaign issue, with residents expressing concerns about rising electricity bills, water consumption and pressure on the power grid.
Talarico and Hinojosa called for tighter regulation of the industry, prompting Abbott, a longstanding supporter of the sector, to propose new rules.
Talarico campaigned on a combination of Christian faith and economic populism, portraying the contest as a David-versus-Goliath battle while inviting Republicans dissatisfied with their party to support him.
He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2018 and gained national attention through speeches combining progressive politics, biblical teachings and criticism of wealthy elites.
He defeated Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary and sought to broaden his appeal by criticising aspects of former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
Paxton, 63, survived impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives in 2023 over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. He was acquitted by the state Senate and denied wrongdoing.
Talarico’s campaign attracted support from younger voters and former Republicans, reinforcing the Democrats’ efforts to expand their electoral base in Texas.
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