Texas Election Results 2026: Talarico Wins Senate Race
Texas Election Results 2026: Talarico Wins Senate, Hinojosa Wins Governor
Democrats won the biggest statewide contests in Texas on Nov. 3, 2026, ending a drought in statewide wins that had lasted since the mid-1990s. This guide covers the Texas election results for the U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices, shows which races have been called and which have not and answers common questions about Texas’s political history. It is written for readers who want the verified outcome, not speculation. All figures are unofficial and current as of Nov. 4, 2026.
Quick Answer
James Talarico, a Democrat, won the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Texas, defeating Republican Ken Paxton, according to Associated Press race calls. Democrat Gina Hinojosa also won the governor’s race, defeating Greg Abbott. Democrats also won lieutenant governor, attorney general and railroad commissioner. Results are unofficial and may change.
Texas Senate race results: Talarico defeats Paxton
The Associated Press projected Talarico as the winner about two hours after polls closed. Talarico is an Austin state representative and Paxton is the three-term state attorney general. In reported totals, Talarico held roughly 55% of the vote to Paxton’s roughly 43%. Paxton conceded about 20 minutes after the call.
The result is historic in several ways:
- It is the first Democratic U.S. Senate win in Texas since 1988.
- Talarico’s margin comfortably beat his narrow polling lead heading into Election Day.
- The Texas Tribune described it as the most expensive Senate race in American history.
Texas governor and other statewide results
Hinojosa defeated Abbott by about 53% to 46% in reported votes and Abbott conceded on election night. She is the first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995 and NBC News reports she will be the state’s first Hispanic governor.
| Office | Winner or status |
|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | James Talarico (D), called by the AP |
| Governor | Gina Hinojosa (D), called by the AP |
| Lieutenant governor | Vikki Goodwin (D), who defeated incumbent Dan Patrick |
| Attorney general | Nathan Johnson (D), reported as the winner |
| Railroad commissioner | Jon Rosenthal (D), reported as the winner |
| Comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner | Democratic candidates led in reported votes; a confirmed race call was not found in sources checked |
Outlets disagree slightly on how far ahead Johnson was in the attorney general race, so treat margins there as provisional.
Texas election results by county
Final county totals vary by source and update frequently. Early-vote figures from North Texas give a sense of the pattern: Talarico led Paxton 73% to 25% in Dallas County, 60% to 39% in Tarrant County, 56% to 43% in Collin County and 54% to 45% in Denton County. These are early-vote numbers only, not final county results. For full county tallies, use the Texas Secretary of State’s results or your county election office.
Turnout
More than 7.7 million Texans voted early, about 40.5% of registered voters, the highest early-turnout rate for a midterm in modern Texas history.
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Is Texas a blue state now?
The results show Democrats winning major statewide offices but “blue state” is a label, not an official status and one election does not settle it. Some context:
- Donald Trump won Texas by 14 points in the 2024 presidential race.
- Republicans still hold a majority in the Texas Legislature and control of both chambers was still being determined in some close races at the time of the sources reviewed.
- Ted Cruz, a Republican, remains one of Texas’s two senators and was not on this year’s ballot.
Frequently Asked Question
Conclusion
The Texas election results of Nov. 3, 2026 delivered a Democratic Senate win, a Democratic governor and several other statewide offices. The largest open questions are how the final canvass changes the numbers, how the down-ballot statewide races settle and who controls the legislature. Check the Texas Secretary of State or your county election office for official results as they are certified.
