Gina Hinojosa won the Texas governor's race, the first Democrat in 36 years to hold the seat, and Gov. Greg Abbott conceded. Senator-elect James Talarico delivered a victory speech after beating Ken Paxton, and Sen. John Cornyn congratulated him. Results are preliminary until certified.
Gina Hinojosa won the Texas governor's race on election night, Nov. 3, and is the first Democrat in 36 years to hold the seat. Gov. Greg Abbott conceded to her. Abbott had been governor since January 2015 and was seeking another term against Hinojosa and Libertarian Pat Dixon.
Talarico defeats Paxton in the Senate race
Senator-elect James Talarico delivered a victory speech after beating Ken Paxton. Sen. John Cornyn congratulated Talarico. The race between Republican Paxton and Democrat Talarico was the most hotly contested federal race in Texas and was widely considered the marquee race of the midterm cycle. Before the vote, no Democrat had won statewide in Texas since 1994, and in recent polling Paxton had trailed Talarico.
Paxton's path to the general election
Paxton, the state's three-term attorney general, defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the May Republican runoff. He had President Donald Trump's endorsement a week before the vote, and it was the first time a Texas senator had lost renomination since 1970. The Texas House impeached Paxton in 2023, and the state Senate acquitted him.
Voting and counting details
Polls across Texas closed at 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and voters in line by that time were entitled to vote. Texans voted in federal, state and local races in the midterm elections. Counties typically report early voting and mail-in totals first, with Election Day results following. In close races, mail-in votes can help determine the winner and delay a call.
Certain domestic mail ballots could arrive by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, if postmarked or marked by an approved carrier by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Military and overseas ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Monday, Nov. 9.
The Associated Press provides results and race calls, and estimates how many votes have been counted. Results information comes from the Texas Secretary of State's Office and is preliminary until that office certifies it.
