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Talarico ends Democrats’ 38-year wait for a Texas Senate victory
Developing story first seen 12 hours ago
New results confirm Democrat James Talarico has won Texas’s US Senate race, defeating Republican Ken Paxton and ending a 38-year gap since a Democrat last won a Senate seat in the state. The upset is a major setback for Donald Trump and could affect control of the narrowly divided Senate, complicating his agenda for the final two years of his presidency.
Texas voted for Trump by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024, and Democrats had not won a statewide office there since 1994. Talarico, 37, is a state representative and former teacher who campaigned on economic concerns, Christian faith and political unity; Paxton, 63, had been impeached over allegations of corruption and abuse of power, but was acquitted. Advertising spending topped $500m, with Republican-aligned groups investing heavily in Paxton’s campaign.
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In short
- James Talarico has flipped a Texas Senate seat for Democrats.
- The win ends a 38-year Democratic drought in Texas Senate races.
- More than $500m was spent on advertising in the contest.
How this story developed
- 1 hour ago A new report again confirmed Talarico’s victory, while reiterating that the result could complicate Trump’s plans for his final two years as president.
- 1 hour ago Further results confirmed Talarico’s upset, sharpening its significance for control of the narrowly divided Senate and Donald Trump’s ability to advance his agenda.
- 2 hours ago James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton to win Texas’s US Senate race, ending Democrats’ 38-year wait for a Senate victory in the state and defying its strong Republican tilt.
Where outlets differ
Left-leaning outlets 2
- Talarico ends Democrats’ 38-year wait for a Texas Senate victoryThe Guardian
- 2026 midterms: James Talarico, the Christian Democrat who sent a political earthquake through TexasLe Monde
Only here: ends, democrats, wait, victory, midterms
Right-leaning outlets 1
Only here: anguished, screams, paxton, race, called
Every side used: talarico, texas, senate, james, democrat
Headline columns compared word for word; nothing in them is AI-written.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Talarico’s victory can be seen as a meaningful expression of voters’ desire for change in a state where Democrats had long struggled to win statewide office. Supporters may argue that his focus on household economics, faith and political unity offers a broad appeal, while replacing Paxton gives Texas a senator whose record they regard as less burdened by controversy.
The case against
Paxton’s supporters may argue that his Republican platform better reflects the preferences of a state that backed Trump decisively in 2024, and that one Senate result should not be taken as a wholesale rejection of that agenda. They may also view the campaign’s heavy spending as a sign of the race’s national stakes, while regarding Paxton’s acquittal in his impeachment trial as a reason voters could fairly leave the allegations behind.
Explained simply
Texas is a large state that has usually voted Republican in national elections. Democrats had not won a Texas Senate seat since 1988, or a statewide office since 1994, making this contest a rare chance for the party to gain ground.
James Talarico is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives and a former teacher. His campaign focused on the cost of living, his Christian faith and political unity; his opponent, Republican Ken Paxton, is the state’s attorney general and was acquitted after an impeachment trial over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
The Senate is closely divided, so a change in party control could affect which bills pass and how easily the president advances his plans. The contest drew more than $500m in advertising, reflecting the stakes for both parties.
Coverage · 3 sources
Bias meters
From 3 rated sources.
- The GuardianLeftTalarico ends Democrats’ 38-year wait for a Texas Senate victory
- Le MondeLeft2026 midterms: James Talarico, the Christian Democrat who sent a political earthquake through Texas
- Daily MailRightAnguished man screams 'No' at Ken Paxton HQ as Texas Senate race is called for Democrat James Talarico
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Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “James Talarico wins Texas Senate race in historic victory for Democrats”.