Democrat James Talarico has won the US Senate race in Texas, flipping another seat for his party and delivering a significant setback to Republicans. Projections from NBC News and CBS News indicated that Talarico defeated Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general and the Republican candidate, who is a close ally of President Donald Trump.
Paxton had also drawn strong backing from tech billionaire Elon Musk. Despite that support, Talarico’s victory ends a long Republican hold on the seat and makes him the first Democrat elected to it since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988.
A Historic Statewide Win
The result also marks the first time a Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, according to the information provided. The Austin-area lawmaker overcame heavy Republican spending, relying on grassroots fundraising and strong support in urban areas to secure the win.
Speaking to cheering supporters at a victory rally in Austin, the Texas capital, Talarico said, “We defeated Goliath.”
“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,” he said. Talarico also declared that the result showed that “power belongs to the people.”
Transition and Wider Gains
Outgoing Senator John Cornyn congratulated Talarico on his victory and offered to assist with the transition. The outcome came amid other Democratic gains that contributed to changes in the balance of power in the Senate.
Talarico’s win stands as one of the most closely watched results of the midterm elections, underscoring a shift in a state long regarded as a Republican stronghold and adding momentum to his party’s broader Senate efforts.
