Democrats Score Historic Texas Sweep, Defeating Abbott and Paxton
WHO:
KUT - Political science professor David Crockett said Hinojosa’s victory would be perceived as “an earthquake”; University of Houston political science lecturer Nancy Sims said the national political environment could influence the governor’s race.
NBC News Politics - Democrat Gina Hinojosa was projected to win the Texas governor’s race; Republican Gov. Greg Abbott was her opponent.
ABC News - Abbott addressed supporters after ABC News projected Hinojosa would win the governor’s race.
Boston.com News - Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton were the candidates in Texas’s U.S. Senate race.
Rolling Stone Politics - Talarico and Hinojosa were projected to win Texas’s Senate and governor’s races, respectively.
Newsweek - Talarico defeated Paxton and became the first Democrat to represent Texas in the Senate in three decades.
NY Post - Talarico was a state legislator before winning the Senate race.
Fox News - Hinojosa became Texas’s first Latina governor.
Fox News - President Trump backed Paxton in the Senate race.
WHAT:
KUT - The Associated Press called the governor’s race for Hinojosa when she had about 57% of reported votes to Abbott’s 41%; Abbott said there were still votes to count but that he could not win mathematically.
KUT - Hinojosa’s win ended three decades of Republican control of the Texas governor’s office and denied Abbott a fourth term.
KUT - Hinojosa said, “Your government belongs to you,” and pledged never to forget that as governor.
KUT - Abbott was first elected in 2014 and was due to leave office in January after 12 years as governor.
KUT - The 2025 private-school voucher program allocated $1 billion for the 2026–27 budget period; Abbott also signed an $8.5 billion public-school funding package, including $4.2 billion for teacher and staff raises.
KUT - Hinojosa proposed one-time $1,500 payments to Texas households from the Rainy Day Fund and cutting corporate subsidies to help fund property-tax relief.
NBC News - Voters in 15 states elected female governors, setting a record; at least eight Democratic women and two Republican women were projected winners.
NBC News - Keisha Lance Bottoms was projected to become the first Black female governor in U.S. history.
NBC News Politics - Hinojosa thanked her supporters after being projected as the winner and unseating Abbott.
ABC News - Abbott addressed supporters after conceding the governor’s race.
Boston.com News - Talarico flipped a U.S. Senate seat in Texas; the heated campaign was described as one of the most expensive of the midterms.
Newsweek - Hinojosa beat Abbott in an upset.
Rolling Stone Politics - Democrats won statewide Texas offices for the first time in decades.
NY Post - Talarico’s victory ended Texas Democrats’ 38-year wait for a Senate election win.
Fox News - Hinojosa defeated Abbott, campaigning against school vouchers and corporate influence.
Fox News - Talarico flipped Texas’s Senate seat for Democrats.
WHERE:
NBC News Politics - The governor’s race took place in Texas.
Boston.com News - The Senate campaign took place in Texas, a state described as a conservative stronghold.
Rolling Stone Politics - The statewide election victories were in Texas.
WHY:
Boston.com News - Paxton’s legal, personal, and ethical troubles, which had shadowed much of his three terms as Texas attorney general, became part of the campaign’s focus.
Fox News - Hinojosa’s strategy of tying Abbott to President Trump proved pivotal.
Fox News - President Trump’s backing of Paxton backfired amid corruption allegations and a schism within the Republican Party.
HOW:
KUT - Hinojosa proposed replacing Education Commissioner Mike Morath with an educator, increasing public-school funding, and overhauling the state’s testing and accountability system.
Fox News - Hinojosa campaigned against school vouchers and corporate influence and tied Abbott to President Trump.
Fox News - Talarico won amid corruption allegations against Paxton and a split within the GOP.
(UPDATED November 4, 2026 06:59 UTC)
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott, ending three decades of Republican control in Texas. She becomes Texas’s first Latina governor, after campaigning against school vouchers and corporate influence. Democrat James Talarico also defeated Ken Paxton, flipping Texas’s Senate seat after a 38-year wait.
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(UPDATED November 4, 2026 05:59 UTC)
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott, becoming Texas’s first Latina governor in an upset. James Talarico flipped Texas’s Senate seat, defeating Ken Paxton and ending Democrats’ decades-long wait. Democrats won statewide Texas offices as Paxton faced corruption allegations and Republican divisions.