Democrats Seize Texas State Government in Midterms
Democrats won control of Texas state government in the 2026 midterm elections, ousting every statewide-elected Republican.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrats seized control of the Texas state government in the 2026 midterm elections, and every statewide-elected Republican in the state was ousted from office. The results came as voters nationwide rejected Republicans amid frustration over inflation and the ongoing war in Iran.
Why it matters
The shift marks a major change in Texas politics, a state long dominated by Republicans. Sen. Ted Cruz, who campaigned nationally for GOP candidates, will lose his chairmanship of the Senate Commerce committee when Democrats take Senate control in January.
Every statewide-elected Republican in Texas lost office in the 2026 midterms, a sharp reversal from Cruz's 2024 reelection over Colin Allred. Vote margins and the full roster of newly elected Democrats were not detailed in the extraction.
The players
Ted Cruz
Texas Republican U.S. senator who campaigned for GOP candidates nationwide and is expected to lose his Commerce committee chairmanship.
Colin Allred
Former Democratic U.S. representative from Texas whom Cruz defeated in the 2024 Senate race.
The details
Cruz campaigned across the country on private jets to help save Republican congressional majorities, predicting an uphill fight with voters tired of inflation and the war in Iran. He defended Trump's unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen and Trump's decision to invade Iran. Cruz was silent on the morning after the election.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Midterm elections; Democrats seize Texas state control.
January 2027: Democrats take control of the Senate, and Cruz loses his committee chairmanship.
2028: Possible Cruz presidential run.
2030: Cruz's next Senate reelection campaign.
Political Context
Cruz won reelection in 2024 over Colin Allred, a result that kept Texas Republicans in control of its Senate delegation. The 2026 statewide sweep by Democrats reverses that Texas pattern at the state level.
Texas residents will see new state officials in office after the Democratic sweep of statewide offices. Changes in state policy will depend on how the new officials govern once they take office.
The takeaway
The 2026 midterms show how quickly statewide political control can shift when voter priorities change. Readers should watch how Texas Democrats and the incoming Senate majority shape policy over the coming year.
What happens next
Democrats take control of the U.S. Senate in January 2027, when Cruz loses his Commerce committee chairmanship.
Further reading
For more on the latest races and results, see Elections coverage across Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Antonio Express-News.
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