James Talarico wins Texas US Senate race against Ken Paxton

Hundreds of James Talarico supporters gathered on the patio outside the Long Center for the Performing Arts late Tuesday, their voices rising in unison as the Democrat was declared the winner of Texas’ U.S. Senate race against Ken Paxton. KUT reported that Talarico addressed the jubilant crowd with a declaration that this was “a win the size of Texas,” adding that as the movement heads to Washington, “Texas, it’s time to start flipping tables.”

The Senate victory capped one of the biggest political upsets Texas has seen in a generation, part of a sweeping night for Democrats in a state that has long been red. Democrat Gina Hinojosa will become the first Latina to serve as Texas governor, while Democrat Vikki Goodwin will take the lieutenant governor spot when statewide officials are sworn into office in January.

A Win the Size of Texas

Inside the Long Center, the atmosphere shifted from anticipation to celebration as election results flashed across projectors. Quentin Newman watched the live coverage alongside hundreds of other supporters, while a couple nearby tracked the 2026 Senate race on the same screen. When Talarico walked onto the stage to give his victory speech, the crowd erupted, with attendees like Andrew Matthews, Katie Graham, and Alison Weis cheering the declaration that sealed the upset against Paxton.

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The energy at the watch party reflected the magnitude of the shift. Rob Trevino and Kevin Jones celebrated the Democratic wins, while across the room, a man knelt in prayer as Democrats moved toward taking control of Congress. The scene captured the mix of relief and triumph that defined the night for Texas Democrats, who had watched Republicans dominate statewide races for years.

Talarico’s speech laid out the stakes for the incoming class of officials. “And now, we have a mandate the size of Texas,” he told the crowd, framing the victory not just as a personal win but as a directive for how to govern once seated in the United States Senate.

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The celebration extended beyond the formal watch parties. A neon sign bearing Hinojosa’s name lit up The Vote Truck, which had traveled across Texas in the weeks leading up to the election encouraging people to vote for the Democratic candidate for governor. At the Austin Recreation Center, Hinojosa had rallied with supporters on Election Day, while voters lined up at the University Presbyterian Church to cast their ballots on Tuesday.

Not everyone in the city shared the enthusiasm. At the governor’s watch party at Speakeasy in Austin, an attendee wore a hat supporting Greg Abbott, who later conceded the election to Hinojosa. A voter at one polling location wore pins supporting both Hinojosa and Talarico, reflecting the coordinated Democratic push that carried the night.

James Talarico wins Texas US Senate race against Ken Paxton

Sworn in This January

The scope of the Democratic victories reshaped the political map of the nation’s second-largest state. With Talarico headed to the Senate, Hinojosa set to become governor, and Goodwin as lieutenant governor, Democrats had a slew of wins in a state that has long been red.

When the new officials take their oaths in January, they will step into offices that have been held by Republicans for decades. Talarico will join the United States Senate, while Hinojosa and Goodwin will occupy the governor’s mansion and the lieutenant governor’s office, marking a dramatic realignment in Texas politics.