Texas Democrats scored a series of historic wins Tuesday night, breaking more than three decades of Republican dominance in statewide elections as voters delivered major upsets in races for governor, U.S. Senate and attorney general.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, becoming the first Latina elected governor of Texas.
State Rep. James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a closely watched U.S. Senate contest, while Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson defeated Republican Mayes Middleton to become the state’s next attorney general.
The results marked a dramatic political shift in a state where Democrats had not won a statewide election since 1994, when Republican George W. Bush defeated Democratic Gov. Ann Richards.
The Democratic victories followed an unusually competitive campaign season and record-breaking early voting.
More than 7.7 million Texans cast ballots before Election Day, representing 40.5% of registered voters and setting a modern record for early participation in a Texas midterm election.
The election also featured extraordinary campaign spending, particularly in the U.S. Senate race, where national political organizations and wealthy donors poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the contest.
Nationwide, Democrats are projected to take control of the US House of Representatives as well as the Senate.
Multiple governor races flipped Blue as well.
A turning point in Texas politics
Tuesday’s results represented a major reversal for Texas Republicans, who had maintained control of every statewide elected office for more than three decades.
The Democratic victories came amid voter concerns about affordability, public education, government accountability and the direction of state and national politics.
The results also underscored the growing electoral importance of suburban voters, particularly in North Texas, where Democrats performed strongly in several closely watched contests.
For Democrats, the election ended a lengthy statewide losing streak and opened a new chapter in Texas politics.
For Republicans, the defeats raised questions about the party’s political strategy and its ability to maintain the coalition that had dominated Texas elections since the 1990s.
Down Ballot Races
As of press time Tuesday, Democrat Jon Rosenthal was leading Bo French for Railroad Commissioner with 55.9% of the vote.
Likewise, Democrat Vikki Goodwin was leading incumbent Dan Patrick for Lieutenant Governor with 54.9% of the vote.
Democrat Sarah Eckhardt was leading incumbent Don Huffines for Comptroller with 54.9% of the vote.
Democrat Benjamin Flores led incumbent Dawn Buckingham for Land Commissioner with 54.9% of the vote.
Clayton Tucker was leading Nate Sheets for Agriculture Commissioner with 54.7% of the vote.
Local Republicans bucked statewide and national trends though.
At press time Tuesday, incumbent Republican Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-4) led Democrat Jason Perce with 53.9% of the vote.
Incumbent State Representative Shelley Luther (District 62) led Democrat Catherine Thorne with 70.5% of the vote.
Down the road in Denton County Incumbent Republican, and Whitesboro native, Jared Patterson, (District 106) was in a dead heat with challenger Joe Mayes.
Grayson County votes Red
Republican candidates maintained their stronghold in Grayson County on Tuesday, sweeping the major statewide and congressional races and winning all contested countywide races in the Nov. 3 general election.
According to unofficial results released by the Grayson County Elections Administration at 9:18 p.m. Tuesday, 54,184 of the county’s 94,498 registered voters cast ballots, representing a turnout of 57.3%.
Republicans carried the county by big margins in races across the board while several Republican candidates for county offices ran unopposed.
Paxton received 36,326 votes in Grayson County compared with 16,190 for Talarico. Libertarian Ted Brown received 1,266 votes.
In the governor’s race, Abbott received 37,644 votes in Grayson County compared with 15,327 for Hinojosa. Libertarian Pat Dixon received 916 votes.
Fallon also carried Grayson County in his bid for another term representing Texas’ 4th Congressional District. Fallon received 38,617 votes compared with 14,767 for Pearce.
In the AG’s race, Middleton received 37,772 votes in Grayson County compared with 14,946 for Johnson. Libertarian Tom Oxford received 838 votes.
The Republican advantage extended throughout the statewide ballot.
Lt. Gov. Patrick received 37,737 votes compared with 14,820 for Goodwin.
Huffines received 37,874 votes compared with 14,622 for Eckhardt.
In the race for Texas House District 62, Luther received 37,547 votes compared with 15,115 for Thorne.
Republicans also faced no Democratic opposition in several county-level races.
County Judge Bruce Dawsey received 41,626 votes in his unopposed bid for another term.
Kerye Ashmore received 41,017 votes for judge of County Court at Law No. 1, while Rick Dunn received 41,106 votes for judge of County Court at Law No. 2.
District Clerk Kelly Clark Ashmore received 41,210 votes.
County Clerk Tammy Reddic received 41,085 votes and County Treasurer Gayla Hawkins received 41,384 votes.
All three Republicans ran unopposed.
Republican Art Clayton also ran unopposed for judge of the 397th Judicial District Court, receiving 40,770 votes.
Although Republicans dominated the Grayson County returns, county-level results do not necessarily reflect the outcome of statewide races, which are determined by votes cast across Texas.
The results remain unofficial until they are canvassed and certified by the appropriate election authorities.