Texas voters made history in the Nov. 3 election, delivering major victories to Democrats in several closely watched statewide and congressional races.
James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas in nearly four decades, while Gina Hinojosa will become the state’s first Latina governor.
Democrats also flipped congressional seats in South and West Texas, while several key Bexar County races ushered in new leadership.
Here’s a look at the results and what they mean for Texas.
In a historic win, Talarico became the first Texas Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate since 1988.
Talarico, an Austin-area state representative, defeated Paxton. The Associated Press called the race just after 10 p.m. Tuesday.
“We just took back Texas,” he told a crowd of supporters in Austin after declaring victory. “We just proved that all the money in the world is no match for the people of Texas. We just showed that a politics of division is no match for a politics of love.”
Watch his full victory speech below:
Democrat Hinojosa will become the next governor of Texas, becoming the first Latina to hold the office and the first governor from the Rio Grande Valley. She also becomes the first democratic governor elected in Texas since Ann Richards in 1990.
“With a Texas chip on our shoulder,” Hinojosa said, “we showed them anything is possible.”
Watch her victory speech below:
Abbott conceded the race, marking the end of his 12 years in the role. He said he called Hinojosa and offered to assist her during the transition period.
Former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg declared victory Tuesday night in the race for Bexar County judge, holding a commanding lead over Republican challenger Patrick Von Dohlen. At 1 a.m. Wednesday, Nirenberg had 67% of the vote, with more than 425,000 votes to Von Dohlen’s 214,000.
Nirenberg, who was forced out by term limits in 2025 after eight years as San Antonio’s mayor, beat sitting County Judge Peter Sakai in the March Democratic primary. Von Dohlen, a financial advisor and conservative activist, has lost three previous bids for the District 9 seat on the San Antonio City Council.
“I am honored to be your next Bexar County Judge,” Nirenberg said in a speech at Backyard on Broadway. He told KSAT 12 at the Democratic watch party that he felt “the weight of the moment” and said his priority after being sworn in this January will be public safety, including resources for the courts and the district attorney’s office and problems at the jail. He also said he would work to cut duplicated services between the city and county as the county faces a budget crunch.
Luz Elena Chapa was elected as Bexar County’s next criminal district attorney, promising change as she takes over an office with a backlog of criminal cases, staffing shortages and questions about how prosecutors handle domestic violence allegations.
She said her role as an outsider helps her approach the role from a different lens. She said she wants to have an ongoing conversation with community members about how the office can be improved.
Democrat Katy Padilla Stout was elected to Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, defeating Republican Brandon Herrera. The Associated Press called the race at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday.
The race for the state’s largest congressional district became closely watched after Rep. Tony Gonzales dropped his reelection bid amid a sex scandal with a staffer.
>> Disgraced Rep. Tony Gonzales resigns from Congress after affair, sexual misconduct allegations
Historically, the district has brought a close race between both parties, flipping every few years through the early 2000s.
Democrat Johnny Garcia won the race for Texas’ newly redrawn 35th Congressional District, defeating Republican Carlos De La Cruz. Garcia declared victory in the 35th Congressional District race after De La Cruz called and conceded, according to a press release from Garcia’s campaign.
Garcia, a former Bexar County sheriff’s deputy, spent more than 20 years with the agency and served as its spokesperson before launching his campaign. He and De La Cruz, a retired Air Force veteran and San Antonio business owner, were both political newcomers. De La Cruz is the brother of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, who was also defeated Tuesday night.
“I’m honored and humbled that voters have put their trust in me,” Garcia said in the release. “I will fight to lower your costs, make your healthcare more affordable, and make our community safer.”
The race drew heavy television advertising in its final weeks. President Donald Trump endorsed Carlos De La Cruz before the March primary and rallied for him in San Antonio in October. Neither candidate won a majority in the March primary. De La Cruz beat state Rep. John Lujan, who had been endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott, in the May runoff, while Garcia won the Democratic nomination against Maureen Galindo in the primary.
Democrat Bobby Pulido flipped Texas’ redrawn Congressional District 15 on Tuesday night, marking the first elected office for the Tejano singer.
He defeated Republican Monica De La Cruz, who was first elected to the district in 2022. The Associated Press called the race at 11:37 p.m.
