Skip to main content
CadNews - Comparative News Analysis
Topics
Sign in
Back to brief

Politics · November 3, 2026

Talarico turns Texas blue in historic win for Democrats

Part of: Texas Senate: Paxton vs. Talarico →
28 sources →

FreeGet stories like this compared, every morning at 7.

In a significant shift for Texas politics, Democratic State Representative James Talarico has defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton to win the U.S. Senate seat, according to projections from several major news outlets. This victory marks the first time a Democrat has won a U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1988, ending nearly four decades of Republican dominance in statewide elections. The contest was one of the most expensive in U.S. history, with spending estimated between $500 million and $575 million. Talarico, a 37-year-old former teacher and seminarian, ran on a platform of fighting corruption and lowering costs, while Paxton, who ousted incumbent John Cornyn in the primary with President Trump's backing, faced scrutiny over past legal and personal controversies.

Read the original coverage

Reported across the spectrum

  • James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in the 2026 Texas U.S. Senate race.
  • This is the first time a Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 1988.
  • The race was one of the most expensive non-presidential elections in U.S. history.
  • Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary prior to this election.
  • James Talarico is a former teacher and seminarian.

Reported by only some outlets

  • The Associated Press called the race at 11:03 p.m. with Talarico at 59.2% and Paxton at 39.2% with 67% of votes counted.
  • Total ad spending and reservations for the race reached approximately $575 million.
  • Voter turnout in the race rivaled that of the 2024 presidential election.
  • Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 but acquitted by the Texas Senate.
  • Reports surfaced during the campaign regarding Paxton's personal conduct, including a New Year's Eve 2024 trip to Dubai.
  • Outgoing Senator John Cornyn released a statement congratulating Talarico and offering transition assistance.

FreeDaily Brief newsletter

Get the 5-minute Daily Brief, with the topics you pick.

The Daily Brief is free

About these outlets

CadNews does not determine absolute truth or endorse political viewpoints. It compares publicly available reporting, identifies shared facts, highlights framing differences, and flags uncertainty.