James Talarico wins Texas Senate race in historic victory for Democrats
Democrat James Talarico has won the US Senate race in Texas, breaking a 38-year drought for his party in the Republican stronghold and delivering a stunning blow to Donald Trump.
Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, the state attorney general and a staunch ally of the US president, in one of the most closely watched contests of the midterm elections to decide control of Congress. The result could have significant implications for control of the Senate, where Republicans have been defending a narrow majority.
Historic Victory
The Democrat's victory signifies a rupture in the political landscape in Texas, the country's second biggest state, which Trump carried by nearly 14 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. No Democrat had won a Senate seat in Texas since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 and none had won any statewide office since 1994.
Talarico, 37, a Presbyterian seminarian, former middle school teacher and state representative, built his campaign around economic concerns, Christian faith and a message of political unity.
Campaign Issues
He sought to appeal to independents and Republicans disillusioned with the administration, arguing that the cost of living and the influence of wealthy donors mattered more to Texans than partisan divisions. His campaign also sought to capitalize on controversies surrounding Paxton, 63, who was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023 over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
Talarico portrayed Paxton as corrupt and argued that Republicans were attempting to distract voters from economic pressures, including rising fuel and everyday costs.
Expensive Contest
The race became one of the most expensive Senate contests in US history, with advertising spending topping $500m, according to campaign spending estimates. Republican-aligned groups poured hundreds of millions of dollars into efforts to elect Paxton, including substantial funding linked to billionaire Elon Musk.
Talarico countered the spending advantage with a formidable fundraising operation. His campaign reported raising $64m in the third quarter of the year, with 97% of donations under $100. Republican advertising focused heavily on Talarico's positions on transgender issues, his religious views, and his interpretation of scripture.
Political Shift
His victory represents a breakthrough for a party that had repeatedly come close to winning Texas in recent elections, only to fall short on polling day. Among those disappointments was the 2018 defeat of Beto O'Rourke by Ted Cruz by a margin of just under 215,000 votes, or 2.6%.
Paxton's campaign was dogged by years of controversy, including his impeachment when attorney general by the Republican-controlled Texas House over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. He was acquitted by the state senate.
Billionaire Elon Musk was among the most prominent financial backers of the Republican effort, contributing $158m to the Senate Leadership Fund, which transferred matching sums to a Super Pac supporting Paxton.
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