James Talarico on flipping Texas Senate seat in race against Ken Paxton

In the 2026 midterm elections, James Talarico, a Democrat and former teacher, won the U.S. Senate seat for Texas against incumbent Republican Ken Paxton, marking a historic upset in a state that had not elected a Democratic senator since 1988. Early voting data showed Democrats slightly outnumbering Republicans for the first time in recent history. The race was seen as pivotal for determining which party would control Congress during Donald Trump's presidency. Despite initial expectations, Talarico's victory dealt a significant blow to Republican dominance in Texas, with polls showing Democrats ahead in every statewide contest. On election night, supporters of Paxton were visibly distraught at the results, reflecting the unexpected turn of events.