James Talarico wins Texas Senate race in historic victory for Democrats

Democrat James Talarico has won the US Senate race in Texas, breaking a 38-year drought for his party in the Republican stronghold and delivering a stunning blow to Donald Trump.

Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, the state attorney general and a staunch ally of the US president, in one of the most closely watched contests of the midterm elections to decide control of Congress.

The result could have significant implications for control of the Senate, where Republicans have been defending a narrow majority, and complicate Trump’s efforts to advance his agenda during the final two years of his presidency.

The Democrat’s victory signifies a rupture in the political landscape in Texas, the country’s second biggest state, which Trump carried by nearly 14 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.

No Democrat had won a Senate seat in Texas since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 and none had won any statewide office since 1994. Repeated attempts by the party to turn the state blue had fallen short.

Talarico, 37, a Presbyterian seminarian, former middle school teacher and state representative, built his campaign around economic concerns, Christian faith and a message of political unity.

He sought to appeal to independents and Republicans disillusioned with the administration, arguing that the cost of living and the influence of wealthy donors mattered more to Texans than partisan divisions.

His campaign also sought to capitalise on controversies surrounding Paxton, 63, who, as attorney general, was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives in 2023 over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. He was acquitted by the state senate.

Separate securities fraud charges were resolved in 2024 under an agreement requiring community service, ethics training and restitution. Paxton denied wrongdoing.

Trump backed Paxton and the attorney general defeated incumbent Republican senator John Cornyn in a bitter primary contest.

The race became one of the most expensive Senate contests in US history, with advertising spending topping $500m, according to campaign spending estimates. Republican-aligned groups poured hundreds of millions of dollars into efforts to elect Paxton, including substantial funding linked to billionaire Elon Musk.

Talarico countered the spending advantage with a formidable fundraising operation. His campaign reported raising $64m in the third quarter of the year, with 97% of donations under $100.

Republican advertising focused heavily on Talarico’s positions on transgender issues, his religious views, and his interpretation of scripture. Factcheckers have challenged claims made in some of the advertisements.

Talarico portrayed Paxton as corrupt and argued that Republicans were attempting to distract voters from economic pressures, including rising fuel and everyday costs.

His victory represents a breakthrough for a party that had repeatedly come close to winning Texas in recent elections, only to fall short on polling day. Among those disappointments was the 2018 defeat of Beto O’Rourke by Ted Cruz by a margin of just under 215,000 votes, or 2.6%.

Paxton’s campaign was dogged by years of controversy, including his impeachment when attorney general by the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. He was acquitted by the state senate.

Separate securities fraud charges were resolved in 2024 under an agreement requiring community service, ethics training and restitution. Paxton denied wrongdoing.

Republican groups also poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the race, which became one of the most expensive Senate contests in US history, with advertising spending topping $500m, according to campaign spending estimates.

Billionaire Elon Musk was among the most prominent financial backers of the Republican effort, contributing $158m to the Senate Leadership Fund, which transferred matching sums to a Super Pac supporting Paxton.

Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, built a coalition of independents, younger voters and Republicans disillusioned with Trump.

He campaigned on the cost of living, economic inequality and a message of political unity, arguing that wealthy donors and entrenched interests had too much influence over US politics. His campaign outpaced Paxton’s in fundraising, bringing in $64m in the third quarter, with 97% of donations under $100.

Republican advertising focused heavily on Talarico’s positions on transgender issues, his religious views, and his interpretation of scripture. Factcheckers have challenged claims made in some of the advertisements.