Talarico defeats Paxton to break Republican grip on Texas statewide offices

James Talarico has won the U.S. Senate race in Texas, according to a call from the Associated Press. The Democratic state representative defeated Ken Paxton, the Republican state attorney general, in a contest that ended the GOP's thirty-year hold on statewide elected positions in the state.

Paxton's loss marks the first time a Republican has dropped a Texas Senate seat since the 1990s. The attorney general secured the party nomination after beating incumbent John Cornyn in a primary runoff, a victory aided by a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump.

The outcome represents a financial and political setback for the Republican Party and its leadership. Trump and aligned groups injected millions of dollars into the campaign, with the president frequently using Talarico as a national target for Democrats at rallies across the country.

Trump's involvement may have complicated Paxton's position as the president's approval ratings fell. Paxton voiced concerns about the impact of the presidential endorsement after Trump campaigned for him in Dallas in September. Despite the conservative super PACs spending heavily on advertising in the final two months to offset Talarico's fundraising lead, the Democrat maintained a polling edge for much of the summer.

Talarico, a four-term legislator from Austin and former San Antonio middle school teacher, built his political profile in 2018 by winning a heavily Republican House district. His campaign focused on education policy, specifically opposing a law that required the display of a Protestant translation of the Ten Commandments in public schools, a measure now facing federal litigation.

National visibility surged for Talarico following a July 2025 interview on The Joe Rogan Experience and a February 2026 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. CBS initially declined to air the Colbert segment, reportedly due to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission, but the clip gained traction on YouTube. This exposure helped the candidate become a major fundraising force.

Paxton faced additional challenges from his political history and personal life. He survived an impeachment process in 2023 after being accused of corruption in office, winning acquittal in the Texas Senate. He also continued to manage public perception during his divorce from state Senator Angela Paxton, which involved allegations of marital infidelity.