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Choosin' Texas Becomes Democrats' Midterm Anthem

Democrats claimed Ella Langley's hit as a liberal anthem after Texas flipped in the 2026 midterm elections.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Pop

Bold flat-color poster illustration of a red star and black vinyl record on a cream field, with diagonal motion lines suggesting a country-music single.
Democrats and liberals on social media tied Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" to the 2026 midterms after Democrat James Talerico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for a Texas Senate seat. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Following the 2026 midterm results, in which Republicans lost control of the House and Senate, Democrats and liberals on social media associated Ella Langley's Choosin' Texas with the outcome. The song returned to No. 1 on Apple Music and climbed back to No. 3 on Spotify's US Top Songs chart.

Why it matters

The song's adoption as a political symbol highlights how a country-music hit can be pulled into partisan messaging after an election. Langley has never publicly spoken about her political beliefs, leaving the song's meaning to listeners and commentators.

Choosin' Texas has spent a record-extending 26 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, more than All I Want For Christmas Is You, A Bar Song (Tipsy), and Old Town Road. Its post-midterm return to No. 1 on Apple Music and No. 3 on Spotify's US Top Songs chart is drawn from streaming data, while the source does not say whether its chart run will continue beyond the current week.

The players

Ella Langley

Ella Langley is a country singer-songwriter whose hit Choosin' Texas has set Billboard chart records.

James Talerico

James Talerico is a Democrat who defeated Republican Ken Paxton to win a Texas Senate seat, becoming the first Democrat elected to the Texas Senate delegation in 38 years.

Ken Paxton

Ken Paxton is a Republican who lost a Texas Senate race to Democrat James Talerico in the 2026 midterm elections.

Gina Hinojosa

Gina Hinojosa is a Democrat who ousted Texas Governor Greg Abbott in the 2026 midterm elections.

The details

After Democrat James Talerico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for a Texas Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa ousted Governor Greg Abbott, Democrats and liberals posted videos and comments linking the song to the results. Talerico and Hinojosa also posted a joint Instagram video celebrating their wins with soda at a Whataburger while the song played.

Timeline

  1. Choosin' Texas made Billboard chart history earlier in 2026.

  2. The midterm elections were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

  3. On November 4, 2026, the song returned to No. 1 on Apple Music.

Industry Dynamics

Choosin' Texas now holds the most weeks at No. 1 in Hot 100 history, ahead of All I Want For Christmas Is You, A Bar Song (Tipsy), and Old Town Road. Its run shows how a single country release can dominate the Billboard chart well beyond its initial release window.

Listeners can stream Choosin' Texas on Apple Music and Spotify, where it currently ranks No. 1 and No. 3 respectively. The song's chart position on Billboard and streaming platforms determines its visibility in playlists and radio rotations.

The takeaway

A single song can carry political meaning well beyond its lyrics once audiences attach it to events. Readers following the midterm results should weigh how cultural symbols are claimed and contested in the days after an election.

Further reading

For more on chart-topping releases, see our Pop coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.

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