# Texas Turns Blue: How James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa Broke Dems’ 36-Year Losing Streak

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/texas-turns-blue-how-james-talarico-gina-hinojosa-broke-dems-36-year-losing-streak/
- Published: 2026-11-04T04:10:28+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T05:55:58+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hollywood Reporter
- Original article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/james-talarico-won-texas-senate-election-1236747140/
- Topics: Government, Politics

## Key points

- Democrats were projected to win both major Texas races.
- Talarico led Paxton by about 12 points.
- Hinojosa was set to become Texas’s first Latina governor.

## Summary

James Talarico was projected to win Texas’s Senate race, while Gina Hinojosa was projected to become governor, ending decades-long Democratic losing streaks in the state. Their victories would mark a major political shift in traditionally Republican Texas, amid voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and weak campaigns by their Republican opponents.

With about 85 per cent of votes counted, Talarico led Ken Paxton by roughly 12 points and Hinojosa led Greg Abbott by seven; NBC and CNN called both races. Talarico faced an estimated $221 million in negative advertising, while Republican-aligned groups spent $316 million supporting Paxton. Abbott’s campaign outspent Hinojosa’s nearly eight to one, and Elon Musk donated $158 million to a Senate super PAC backing Paxton and $5 million to Abbott’s campaign.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.