US midterms: Democrat Talarico wins Texas Senate seat

Follow the latest developments from the US midterm elections on November 3, 2026: Democrat James Talarico won the Texas US Senate race, defeating President Donald Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, according to AP data. The win was monumental for Democrats who had not won statewide for 32 years. Talarico's win also moves Democrats closer to clinching control of the Senate. Trump carried Texas by 14% points in 2024. He endorsed Paxton, the Texas attorney general, despite the fact that he was at ​the ‌center of many controversies, including a 2023 impeachment and a securities fraud case. Talarico, a four-term state legislator, overcame a flood of heavy outside spending, in what became ‌the ​most expensive Senate race of the cycle.