The Texas Tribune newsroom has reporters across the state tracking the election results. They’ll be posting their observations and analysis below all night.
Here’s are the top things you need to know:
- Gov. Greg Abbott conceded to Gina Hinojosa, in a stunning upset. Hinojosa, a state representative from Austin, will be the first Democratic governor since Ann Richards lost her reelection bid in 1994. She will become Texas’ first Latina governor.
- James Talarico won Texas’ U.S. Senate seat. The Democrat defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican.
- You can see vote totals for all statewide and legislative races here.
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State Rep. Denise Villalobos, R-Corpus Christi, has conceded to Democrat Stephanie Guerrero in House District 34, a seat Villalobos won by 11 points to flip it in 2024. It was a longtime Democratic district that Trump carried by 1 point last cycle, and Republicans had invested heavily to defend her seat.
It might be a similar story in several other districts across the state tonight, as Republicans and Democrats are beginning to say control of the House could be in play. Democrats would have to flip 14 seats to win the chamber for the first time since 2000.
The mood in the room at Ken Paxton’s watch party has turned a bit bleak, with the crowd thinning as people begin to leave. Amid the dwindling gathering, four men embraced in a two-minute prayer, their heads swaying and eyes squeezed shut. One of them, Joshua Feuerstein from Dallas said, “We prayed for the great Republic of Texas. Whatever happens tonight, God will use it for his glory.”
Worried expressions and some furrowed brows are visible across the room. Near the screen, a group of women have pulled up chairs and settled into what appears to be a serious conversation as they await for more results.
Democratic nominee for Texas railroad commission Jon Rosenthal says he will deliver remarks at 9:30 p.m.
A strong showing for Democrats in Webb and Cameron County where Talarico has more than 73% and 70% of the early votes, respectively. A signal that voters in border counties are showing up for the Dems despite their near-unanimous support for Trump in 2024.
James Talarico is leading in a number of suburban counties — Collin, Denton, Fort Bend, Hays, Kaufman and Williamson — as results continue to roll in. The Democratic Senate candidate is holding strong even in the three Dallas-area suburban counties that turned out for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024: Collin, Denton and Kaufman. Suburban Texas used to a reliable GOP stronghold but has become more competitive over the last several election cycles, paving the way for Talarico’s excellent showing there so far tonight.
We got a question from Dustin of Galveston County: How do those Montgomery County early votes compare to the last senate/governor race?
In the 2024 U.S. Senate race, Ted Cruz beat Collin Allred in Montgomery County with 69.8% of votes. In 2020, John Cornyn beat MJ Hegar in the county with 72.4% of votes. Here are our 2024 and 2020 results.
Another way to look at this: Talarico’s 38.8% in Montgomery is about 10 points more than the 28.3% Allred got there. That Talarico figure only includes the early vote, however, so expect it to change.
In the 2022 race for governor, Greg Abbott beat Beto O’Rourke in Montgomery County with 73.4% of votes. Here are our 2022 election results.
Democratic momentum is rising in Texas, in spite of the new congressional map that Republicans hoped would help them pick up five more seats in the U.S. House.
In the redrawn 9th, 34th and 35th Districts – all seats currently held by Democrats and where more than 60 percent of votes have been counted in each – a blue wave seems imminent. Even in the vacant 23rd District, formerly held by Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, Democrat Katy Padilla Stout has surged ahead of Brandon Herrera.
The redistricting arms race isn’t bearing well for the GOP in other states either. In Florida, Democrats have already claimed victory in three of four redrawn seats Republicans hoped to pick up.
With about 10% of polling locations reporting, the state’s secretary of state results page has Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick down to their Democratic challengers Gina Hinojosa and Vikki Goodwin.
In the race for Tarrant County judge, Democrat Alisa Simmons declared victory over incumbent Republican Tim O’Hare, making her the first Democrat to serve as county judge in 40 years. She currently leads O’Hare by 15 points in the county.
In his first apparent social media post since returns started coming in, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn posted a picture of the Texas Capitol with no comment.
A brief cheer erupted among attendees as Florida’s governor’s race was called for the Republican candidate, but the excitement was short-lived. At the Paxton watch party, the mood quickly shifted back to uncertainty as Talarico continued to hold the lead on Fox News, which was projected on a large screen for the crowd to watch.
Meanwhile, Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” blared through the speakers, with the lyrics, “I still have a little fight left in me,” seemingly intended to energize and rally the crowd. Despite the song's message, the atmosphere remained uninspired.
Democratic consultant weighs in on the Railroad Commission race: The mood is hope. Democrat Jon Rosenthal could bring balance to the Republican-controlled, oil-and-gas-regulating agency. “Turns out candidate quality does matter,” they said.
Democrats are clearly having a great night across the U.S. I'm curious what the effect will be in the Texas House and Senate.
There is some notable silence as we start seeing results pour in from Texas counties, and across the country. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man who spent almost $200 million to boost Paxton, has not said much all night. His last post on X, which he owns, appears to have been at 2:56 p.m.
Our election map shows that a lot of rural counties still need to be counted. Those are traditionally red areas. But, of course, they have smaller populations and Republicans have a lot of ground to make up.
Interesting context as we wait for more returns out of Harris County: Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to spend $25 million to turn Harris County dark red. As of yesterday he had invested some $21 million on ads in Houston, per AdImpact. Part of the thinking was to increase GOP turnout that can help offset any margins. The county, where one in six Texans live, is crucial to both parties’ statewide ambitions.
Over at the Gina Hinojosa watch party in East Austin, the mood is jubilant. The blue LED-lit room is filled with cocktail tables with veladoras, prayer candles, with lotería (a Mexican game similar to bingo) icons for “Gobierna,” the feminine form of governor in Spanish. CNN is playing on two big projector screens, flanking a Texas flag at center stage. When the Texas governor’s race shows up on screen with Hinojosa up by double-digits, the crowd electrifies. They cheer, whistle and whoop. “Go Gina!” a supporter shouts. Later, “Freedom! '90” by George Michael plays. Fitting because if Hinojosa wins she’d be the first Democrat elected to statewide office since almost that long ago — 1994!
One of the questions for Houston Democrat and Railroad Commission candidate Jon Rosenthal in May, following Jim Wright’s defeat against Bo French, was whether he could pick up where Wright managed to make gains.
EV returns in South Texas show he’s certainly made inroads. Look at Nueces (75% of EV returns) and Cameron (70% of EV returns), counties Wright led that Rosenthal has now picked up. In counties neighboring the DFW area, Wood, Smith and Parker counties, French is up by wide margins. French has also an overwhelming EV lead in Midland County, where he’s from.
