Democrats Sweep Texas, Ending GOP Senate Run
Democrat James Talarico wins the Texas Senate seat, ending 38 years of Republican control, as Ted Cruz calls the results a Watergate-level repudiation.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Elections
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Democrats swept elections across Texas in the 2026 midterms, with James Talarico winning the U.S. Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa becoming the state's first Latina governor. Sen. Ted Cruz described the results as a Watergate-level repudiation of Republicans on his podcast.
Why it matters
The results mark a major shift in a state long dominated by Republicans, with the Senate seat flipping after 38 years of GOP control. Cruz attributed voter anger to Republicans failing to address prices and other concerns.
More than 80% of NBC News exit poll voters said they were worried about the prices of necessities, according to the survey. Talarico's win ends 38 years of GOP dominance over the seat, though the margin and full exit poll breakdown were not provided.
The players
Ted Cruz
Republican U.S. senator from Texas who described the Democratic midterm sweep as a Watergate-level repudiation of his party and is not up for re-election until 2030.
James Talarico
Democrat who won the Texas Senate seat, ending 38 years of Republican control over the seat.
John Cornyn
Republican U.S. senator from Texas who lost the GOP Senate primary in May to Ken Paxton and later published his analysis as an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal.
The details
Cruz described the election results on an episode of his podcast, saying people were angry because Republicans did not address their very real pain. He cited tariffs raising costs and the Iran war dragging on too long as causes, and called Talarico to congratulate him.
Timeline
May 2026: John Cornyn lost the GOP Senate primary to Ken Paxton.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Democrats prevailed across Texas in the midterm elections.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Cruz described the sweep as a blue tsunami on his podcast.
Season Trajectory
Talarico's win ends a 38-year stretch of Republican control over the Texas Senate seat, a break from the state's long-standing partisan pattern. Cruz said Republicans must rebuild as a true blue-collar party by being real free-market conservatives, while predicting Texas will be red again.
Texas voters saw Democrats win statewide races, including the Senate seat and governor's office. Voters who prioritized prices and the cost of necessities were a central concern in the results, according to exit polling.
The takeaway
The results show voters across Texas focusing on the cost of living, a concern that both parties will have to address in future campaigns. Watch how Republicans respond as they work to rebuild their coalition in a state they have long controlled.
Further reading
For more on how the state's races are shaping up, see Elections coverage for Texas.
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