Cruz alone as Texas Republicans swept from power

Texas turns blue in historic wave

A Democratic sweep has removed every Republican statewide officeholder from Texas except Senator Ted Cruz. Democrats won the Senate, governorship, and state House.

“2026 was not simply a blue wave, it was a blue tsunami.”

Senate seat flips after decades

Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Senate race. Talarico is the first Democrat Texas has elected to the Senate since nineteen eighty-eight.

First Latina governor elected

Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott in the gubernatorial race. Hinojosa is Texas' first-ever Latina governor and first Democrat elected governor since the nineteen nineties.

Democrats sweep down the ballot

Democrats claimed multiple U.S. House seats, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agricultural commissioner, four state Supreme Court seats, and control of the state legislature.

Cruz blames campaign messaging

Cruz said Republicans failed to address voters' concerns about cost of living. He cited tariffs making everything expensive and the Iran war dragging on too long as reasons voters were angry.

“Tariffs have made everything too expensive, and the Iran war has dragged on too long.”

Cruz vows Texas will return to red

Despite the sweeping defeats, Cruz said he reached out to Talarico to congratulate him and vowed to defend Texas against what he called newly elected radicals. He expressed confidence Texas will recover.

“Texas will be red again. It is dark right now, but it is always darkest before the dawn.”