Texas Elects Democrats to Senate and Governor
Texas voters chose Democrats James Talarico for U.S. Senate and Gina Hinojosa for governor in midterm elections held Tuesday.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Texas voters selected Democrats James Talarico for U.S. Senate and Gina Hinojosa for governor in the midterm elections held Tuesday. Talarico is the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate election since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988.
Why it matters
The results mark a notable shift in a state that had not elected a statewide Democrat since Ann Richards won the governor's race in 1990. Republican spending backed by Elon Musk was directed at the races, and tech figures reacted critically on X and on podcasts.
Texas voters elected Democrats James Talarico to the U.S. Senate and Gina Hinojosa as governor on Tuesday. Vote margins and turnout figures were not included in the available reporting.
The players
James Talarico
Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas in the 2026 midterms, becoming the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate race since 1988.
Gina Hinojosa
Democrat elected governor of Texas in the 2026 midterms, ending a long stretch without a statewide Democratic governor in the state.
Elon Musk
Tech entrepreneur whose backed Republican spending was directed at the Texas races, and who posted on X that data centers in space look appealing right now.
The details
Republican spending backed by Elon Musk was directed at the Texas races. Tech figures including Jason Calacanis and Chamath Palihapitiya criticized the outcome on X and during a Tuesday-night livestream, while Reid Hoffman described the results as a wave against Trump and his allies.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Midterm elections held and Texas voters selected Democratic candidates.
1988: Lloyd Bentsen won the last Texas Senate election for a Democrat before Talarico.
1990: Ann Richards won the last statewide Democratic governor's race in Texas before Hinojosa.
Political Context
Hinojosa's win ends a 36-year stretch since Ann Richards's 1990 governor victory, the last time Texas voters chose a Democrat for that statewide office. Talarico's Senate win similarly follows the 1988 Bentsen election, marking a rare Democratic breakthrough in a state long dominated by Republicans.
The results determine who will represent Texas in the U.S. Senate and who will lead state government as governor. Texans will see the policy direction of both offices shift depending on how the new officials act.
The takeaway
Statewide results in Texas can shift when voters change their preferences over several decades. Following local election coverage helps readers track how these changes affect state policy.
Further reading
Explore more in Elections coverage of Texas.
Live Poll
Do you think Texas is heading in the right direction under its current leadership?
