From BBC News · · 2m
Democrat James Talarico wins Texas Senate seat
James Talarico becomes the first Democrat to win a US Senate race in Texas since 1988, defeating Republican Ken Paxton despite over $200m in opposition spending.
In brief
James Talarico becomes the first Democrat to win a US Senate race in Texas since 1988, defeating Republican Ken Paxton despite over $200m in opposition spending. Democrat James Talarico won Texas's US Senate race, the first Democrat to do so since 1988, defeating Republican Ken Paxton in what analysts called a…
Democrat wins Texas Senate seat
James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas's Senate race, the first Democratic victory in the state since nineteen eighty-eight. The win came despite over two hundred million dollars in opposition spending.
“We just took back Texas.”
Talarico's path to victory
A former schoolteacher little-known until last year, Talarico made rising cost of living under Republican leadership central to his campaign, energising the Texas Democratic base.
Paxton's campaign strategy
Republican Ken Paxton sought to portray Talarico's views as too progressive for Texas and campaigned alongside Trump on several occasions to boost his candidacy.
Record spending in the race
The Senate race became the most expensive in US history, with over half a billion dollars spent. Billionaire Elon Musk poured one hundred fifty-eight million pounds into a super PAC supporting Paxton.
Talarico attacks Musk's influence
Speaking to CBS after his victory, Talarico said Musk wanted a senator to do his bidding and sell Texas land to data centers. He declared Texas is not for sale to the world's richest man.
“Texas is not for sale.”
Bush family backs Talarico
Two members of the Bush family, the Republican political dynasty with Texas as its political launchpad, backed Talarico in a stunning move that foreshadowed Paxton's defeat.
Historic Democratic wave in Texas
Gina Hinojosa became the first Latina governor in Texas, ousting Republican incumbent Greg Abbott. Abbott's loss marked the first Democratic gubernatorial win in the state since the nineteen nineties.
Hispanic voters shift away from Trump
Hispanic voters, who make up a third of Texas's population and supported Trump in twenty twenty-four, shifted significantly toward Democrats. They cited Trump's immigration crackdown and aggressive enforcement measures.
Analyst calls result historic
George Washington University political science professor Quardricos Driskell told the BBC the wins in Texas were absolutely historic.He called the Democratic gains a bloodbath and said the country wants to go in a different direction.
“A bloodbath.”
What to remember
Democrat James Talarico won Texas's US Senate race, the first Democrat to do so since 1988, defeating Republican Ken Paxton in what analysts called a historic upset for the party.
