Democrats Flip Texas Senate Seat in Historic Midterm Upset

Published 9h ago · Latest report 8h ago · Election

Affects United States · Covered in 2 countries

Earlier on this storyUS Voters Head to Polls in High Stakes Congressional Midterms1w ago

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Democrat James Talarico won the Texas Senate seat, dealing a major blow to Republicans.

Democrat James Talarico won the US Senate race in Texas, defeating Republican Ken Paxton in a historic political upset. The victory delivers a sharp rebuke to Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who heavily backed the Republican campaign. The outcome marks a stunning shift in a traditionally conservative stronghold during the midterm elections.

The candidatesJames Talarico ran against Ken Paxton, the state attorney general.
The backingKen Paxton received strong support from Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
The backgroundJames Talarico campaigned as a former schoolteacher and Presbyterian seminarian focusing on a politics of love.

Why it matters

Texas has long served as a Republican stronghold in national politics, making any major Democratic breakthrough in state-wide races a transformative event for the balance of power. Congressional midterms often act as a referendum on the sitting president's administration, amplifying the stakes of high-profile state contests.

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