Democrat Wins Texas Senate Seat for First Time Since 1988

Democrat James Talarico achieved an electoral victory that had seemed unlikely for years, after wresting the U.S. Senate seat for Texas from Republicans, ending their dominance that had lasted since 1988, despite a $168 million advertising campaign against him backed by billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. Talarico defeated the state’s Attorney General, Ken Paxton, who was endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump, dealing a setback to the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement in a state that Trump had won comfortably in three presidential elections. Talarico emerged through a political message focused on wealth inequality and corruption, and on seeking to transcend traditional political divisions in a state where Democrats had not won in years, according to NBC News. During his campaign, he raised the slogan that the real conflict is “between the top and the bottom, not between right and left,” arguing that the wealthiest 1% of Americans want to push the rest of society into infighting rather than holding those in power and influence accountable.

On the Republican side, internal criticism began before voting ended. Paxton had faced a series of personal and political scandals over the years, but Trump chose to back him in the primaries at the expense of Republican Senator John Cornyn. During the general election, several prominent Republican figures endorsed Talarico instead of supporting their party’s candidate.

Ken Paxton speaks to supporters after winning the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Plano, Texas, on May 26, 2026 – Reuters. Ken Paxton speaks to supporters after winning the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Plano, Texas, on May 26, 2026 – Reuters.

The Texas House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, voted in 2023 in favor of impeaching Paxton, before he was acquitted by the state Senate in a vote that Trump credited to his own efforts, following pressure he exerted on lawmakers. Although Cornyn endorsed the Republican ticket, he did not explicitly back Paxton; instead, he participated in a fundraising event with former President George W. Bush for Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, none of whom was Paxton. Nevertheless, Paxton received massive financial support, including hundreds of millions of dollars in donations from Musk to major political action committees, but it was not enough to guarantee his victory.

Democrat Talarico succeeded in mobilizing voters in Texas, as early voting data showed record participation in several counties. A portion of Latino voters also returned to supporting Democrats after backing Trump in the 2024 elections. Early voting data indicated broad participation among Hispanic voters, particularly young people and individuals who had not participated in the 2022 or 2024 elections. Talarico focused on attracting independent voters and Republicans dissatisfied with Paxton’s record or with their party’s dominance in the state. He received endorsements from two figures from the Bush political family in Texas: Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, and Neil Bush, brother of the former president.

The Texas result was one of the most significant personal political setbacks for Trump in Tuesday’s elections. His endorsement of Paxton in May, which contributed to Cornyn’s elimination from the race, had deepened divisions within the Republican Party, and its repercussions continued until Election Day. As Paxton’s performance in polls and fundraising declined, Trump attempted to rescue the campaign, visiting Texas three times in October and holding rallies in predominantly Republican areas to boost turnout.