Texas Midterm Election Results 2026 show Democrat James Talarico beating Republican Ken Paxton for the US Senate with 55.08% of the vote and Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseating Gov. Greg Abbott with 52.82%, ending three decades of Republican statewide wins. Gains in Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties and in border counties such as Cameron, Hidalgo and Maverick powered the shift, according to unofficial results from about 9.8 million ballots.
Texas Midterm Election Results 2026 – Introduction
Texas Midterm Election Results 2026 rewrote the state’s political map on November 3, 2026. Talarico won the US Senate seat, the first Democratic Senate win in Texas since 1988. Hinojosa beat Abbott, a three-term incumbent who had won his previous three races by double digits. Democrats also won the lieutenant governor’s race and flipped 2 Republican-held US House seats.
The county returns explain the result. Voters in Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties, which backed Republicans in 2024, broke for Democrats. Border counties that moved toward Trump two years ago moved back. This report uses unofficial returns published on November 4, 2026. Texas counties will still canvass mail and provisional ballots, so final totals can shift by small amounts.
Interesting Fact(s): Texas Midterm Election Results 2026 Key Data
Democratic Vote Share in Texas Races (1 block = 2%)
Cameron County, Governor | ███████████████████████████████████ 70%
Tarrant County, Senate | █████████████████████████████ 58.75%
Statewide, Senate | ███████████████████████████ 55.08%
Statewide, Governor | ██████████████████████████ 52.82%
| Fact | 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Election Day | November 3, 2026 |
| Ballots cast statewide | About 9.8 million (midterm record) |
| Talarico vote share | 55.08% |
| Hinojosa vote share | 52.82% |
| Talarico margin over Paxton | More than 1.19 million votes |
| Statewide seats flipped to Democrats | 16 |
| Last Democratic statewide win before 2026 | 1994 |
| Texas House seats, Democrats (Wednesday) | 76, up from 62 |
| Texas Republicans in US House | 24, down 1 |
| Tarrant Commissioners Court | 4-1 Democratic, from 3-2 Republican |
| Ballots in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton | 2,384,340 |
Source: ABC News and KHOU 11 unofficial results, November 4, 2026; Houston Chronicle; CBS Texas; FOX 4 News.
The table shows a statewide sweep. Talarico won by more than 1.19 million votes, and Hinojosa won by about 706,000. Democrats flipped 16 statewide seats, and no Democrat had won statewide since 1994 before this election. In the Texas House, Democrats moved from 62 seats to 76.
Turnout set the pace. About 9.8 million Texans voted, a record for a midterm. The four largest North Texas counties produced 2,384,340 ballots. Democrats also took control of Tarrant County’s Commissioners Court, which had been 3-2 Republican, and now hold it 4-1.
Texas US Senate Election Results 2026: Talarico vs. Paxton
Texas U.S. Senate Vote Share (2026)
Talarico (D) | ███████████████████████████ 55.08%
Paxton (R) | █████████████████████ 42.99%
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Talarico | Democratic | 5,445,121 | 55.08% |
| Ken Paxton | Republican | 4,249,752 | 42.99% |
| Margin | Democratic | 1,195,369 | 12.09 points |
Source: KHOU 11 and ABC News unofficial results, November 4, 2026.
Talarico won 5,445,121 votes against 4,249,752 for Paxton. That gap is 1,195,369 votes, or 12.09 points. Talarico is a former public school teacher who joined the Texas House in 2018. He becomes the first Democratic senator from Texas since Lloyd Bentsen left office, and the seat was long held by Sen. John Cornyn.
Paxton, the state attorney general, beat Cornyn in the Republican primary and then lost the general election. He conceded on election night and said he would pray for Talarico. Elon Musk’s largest investment of the cycle went to this Senate race. The results are unofficial, and third-party votes make up the remaining 1.93%.
Texas Governor Election Results 2026: Hinojosa vs. Abbott
Texas Governor Vote Share (2026)
Hinojosa (D) | ██████████████████████████ 52.82%
Abbott (R) | ██████████████████████ 45.69%
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gina Hinojosa | Democratic | 5,230,908 | 52.82% |
| Greg Abbott | Republican | 4,524,948 | 45.69% |
| Margin | Democratic | 705,960 | 7.13 points |
Source: KHOU 11 and ABC News unofficial results, November 4, 2026.
Hinojosa won 5,230,908 votes to Abbott’s 4,524,948, a lead of 705,960 votes. She becomes the first Democrat elected Texas governor since 1990 and the state’s first Hispanic governor, according to ABC News. She has served in the Texas House since 2017, representing the 49th district. She won the March primary with 59%.
Abbott led by double digits in each of his last three races. This time his vote share fell to 45.69%. His margin of defeat in the governor’s race was 5 points smaller than Paxton’s loss in the Senate race. That gap shows Abbott held a few more votes than Paxton. Abbott conceded and said he was leaving Texas in far better shape.
Texas County Election Results 2026: Tarrant, Collin and Denton Counties
Talarico Vote Share in North Texas Counties (2026)
Tarrant | █████████████████████████████ 58.75%
Collin | ███████████████████████████ 55%
| County | 2026 Result | 2024 Context |
|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | Talarico 58.75%, Paxton 39.52%; Hinojosa won by 14+ points | Largest urban Republican county before 2026 |
| Collin | Talarico 55%; Hinojosa 51.5% | Trump won about 55% |
| Denton | Statewide Democrats won, per FOX 4 | Voted Republican |
| Dallas | Democratic stronghold | Voted Democratic |
Source: Star-Telegram via Yahoo News; KERA News, November 4, 2026; FOX 4 News.
Tarrant County, home to Fort Worth, moved the most. Talarico won it by about 19 points, and Hinojosa won by more than 14. Democrat Alisa Simmons beat County Judge Tim O’Hare 56.40% to 43.60%, and Tiffany Burks won the district attorney’s race with 55.96%. Collin County, Paxton’s home, gave Talarico 55% and Hinojosa 51.5%.
Collin elected its first Democratic county commissioner in decades. Julie Holmer won Precinct 4 with about 53%. Republican Chris Hill held the county judge job by a narrow margin. In Plano, voters rejected a proposed Dallas Stars arena tax in early returns, with 61.57% voting no. Trump carried Collin with about 55% in 2024, so the swing to Talarico is large.
Texas Border County Election Results 2026: Cameron, Hidalgo, Maverick and Webb
Trump Share in 2024 vs. Paxton Share in 2026, Maverick County
2024 Trump | █████████████████████████████ 59%
2026 Paxton | ██████████████ 28%
| County | 2024 Result | 2026 Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron | Trump about 52% | Hinojosa 70% |
| Hidalgo | Trump 51% | Democratic ticket won in force |
| Maverick | Trump 59% | Paxton 28%, Democrats 72% |
| Webb | Lean R+2.1 | Shift of 26 points |
Source: FOX 7 Austin, November 4, 2026; Texas Secretary of State county data via texpolls.
The border reversal was sharp. Cameron County, Hinojosa’s home, gave her 70%, compared with Trump’s roughly 52% in 2024. Hidalgo County also flipped. Maverick County, which became a focus of Abbott’s border enforcement, moved from 59% for Trump to 28% for Paxton. Webb County, which includes Laredo, shifted by 26 points.
These counties had moved toward Republicans in 2024, and the 2026 results return them to the Democratic column. A heavily Latino voting base drove the rebound. Hidalgo had 466,208 registered voters, and Cameron had 244,070. Their combined weight helps explain why Democrats won statewide.
Texas US House Election Results 2026: Redistricting Backfire and District Flips
Texas Republican U.S. House Seats
Before 2026 | █████████████████████████ 25
After 2026 | ████████████████████████ 24
| Measure | 2026 Result |
|---|---|
| Newly redrawn Republican-friendly seats | 5 |
| Redrawn seats Republicans lost | 4 |
| Redrawn seat Republicans kept | 32nd District |
| Other Republican seats flipped by Democrats | 2 |
| Texas Republicans in US House | 24 |
| Net Republican change | -1 |
Source: FOX 4 News, November 4, 2026; CBS News Election Night Live Updates.
Trump urged Texas Republicans in 2025 to redraw the map and gain 5 seats. The plan failed. Republicans lost 4 of the 5 redrawn districts and kept only the 32nd. Democrats also flipped 2 other Republican-held seats, including the 15th District in South Texas, where Bobby Pulido beat Rep. Monica De La Cruz.
The net result is a loss. Texas Republicans will hold 24 US House seats, one fewer than before. A map built to add 5 seats ended with a 1-seat decline. The 2024 gains in South Texas disappeared, and that region helped drive the outcome in the 15th.
Texas Down-Ballot and Legislature Election Results 2026: Lieutenant Governor, Railroad Commission and State House
Texas House Seats Held by Democrats
Before | ██████████████████████████████ 62
After | ██████████████████████████████████████ 76
| Office | 2026 Result |
|---|---|
| Lieutenant governor | Vikki Goodwin (D) defeated Dan Patrick |
| Railroad commissioner | Jon Rosenthal (D) defeated Bo French; first Democrat since 1990 |
| Texas House Democrats | 76 seats, up from 62 |
| Texas House Republicans | 61 seats, down from 86 |
| Statewide seats flipped | 16 |
| Harris County judge | Letitia Plummer (D) |
Source: Houston Chronicle; FOX 4 News; CBS News Election Night Live Updates, November 4, 2026.
Goodwin defeated three-term Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but she may hold less power than Patrick. Senate Republicans set the chamber’s rules and could limit her control over committees and bills. Rosenthal won the railroad commissioner race after Bo French refused to reconsider offensive comments. He is the first Democrat to win that office since 1990.
The Texas House shifted most. Democrats went from 62 seats to 76, and Republicans fell from 86 to 61, according to Wednesday afternoon counts. The count was still moving, and 150 seats make up the chamber. Plummer’s win in Harris County also matters because it is the third-largest county in the United States.
Texas Voter Turnout 2026: Early Ballots by County
Early Ballots Through October 30, 2026 (1 block = 25,000)
Harris | ███████████████████████████████████████████ 1,076,002
Tarrant | ███████████████████████ 587,304
Collin | ███████████████ 380,750
Denton | █████████████ 324,513
Hidalgo | ██████ 165,746
| County | Early Ballots | % of Registered | 2024 Lean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 1,076,002 | 39.2% | D+5.5 |
| Tarrant | 587,304 | 47.8% | R+5.1 |
| Collin | 380,750 | 48.3% | R+11.1 |
| Denton | 324,513 | 47.2% | R+13.2 |
| Hidalgo | 165,746 | 35.6% | R+2.9 |
| Cameron | 79,864 | 32.7% | R+5.8 |
Source: Texas Secretary of State data via texpolls, October 30, 2026; CBS Texas.
Harris County led with 1,076,002 early ballots, 39.2% of its registered voters. Suburban counties voted at higher rates. Tarrant reached 47.8%, Collin 48.3% and Denton 47.2%. Those three leaned Republican by 5.1, 11.1 and 13.2 points in 2024, and all three went Democratic in statewide races.
Border turnout was lower. Hidalgo reached 35.6% and Cameron 32.7%. Even so, those counties delivered large margins, led by Hinojosa’s 70% in Cameron. About 9.8 million Texans voted overall. Suburban turnout combined with border margins produced the result.
Texas Election Night Timeline 2026: When Races Were Called
Minutes After 10:00 p.m. ET Until CBS News Projected the Winner
Talarico, Senate | ███ 55
Hinojosa, Governor | ████ 70
Pulido, 15th Dist. | ████████ 162
Rosenthal, Railroad| ██████████████████████ 433
| Race | Winner | CBS News Projection Time |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | James Talarico (D) | 10:55 p.m. ET, November 3 |
| Governor | Gina Hinojosa (D) | 11:10 p.m. ET, November 3 |
| U.S. House, 15th District | Bobby Pulido (D) | 12:42 a.m. ET, November 4 |
| Railroad commissioner | Jon Rosenthal (D) | 5:13 a.m. ET, November 4 |
Source: CBS News Election Night Live Updates, November 4, 2026.
The Senate race fell first. CBS News projected Talarico at 10:55 p.m. ET, 55 minutes after 10:00 p.m. Sen. John Cornyn congratulated him before the projection, writing that the voters had spoken. Hinojosa followed at 11:10 p.m., and sources told CBS News that Abbott called her to concede.
Down-ballot calls took longer. Pulido’s South Texas win came at 12:42 a.m. The railroad commissioner race was projected at 5:13 a.m., more than 7 hours after the Senate call. Paxton conceded and called it a difficult night for Republicans. Abbott later said he was leaving Texas in far better shape.
Texas Democratic Statewide Win Streaks 2026: Years Since Each Office Flipped
Years Since Democrats Last Won (1 block = 2 years)
Texas U.S. Senate (1988) | ███████████████████ 38
Texas Governor (1990) | ██████████████████ 36
Texas Railroad Comm. (1990) | ██████████████████ 36
Any Texas statewide (1994) | ████████████████ 32
| Office | Last Democratic Win | 2026 Result |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | 1988 | Talarico won |
| Governor | 1990 | Hinojosa won |
| Railroad commissioner | 1990 | Rosenthal won |
| Any statewide office | 1994 | 16 statewide flips |
| Lieutenant governor | Long Republican hold | Goodwin won |
Source: ABC News, November 4, 2026; Houston Chronicle; CBS News Election Night Live Updates.
The streak lengths are the story. Democrats had gone 38 years without a Senate win and 36 without a governor or railroad commissioner. No Democrat had won any statewide race since 1994, a 32-year drought. FOX 4 News said Republicans had held every statewide office since the late 1990s, so the 2026 sweep ends that run in one night.
Hinojosa adds a first. She is Texas’s first Hispanic governor, according to ABC News. Talarico is the first Democratic senator since Lloyd Bentsen, who won in 1988. Houston Chronicle reported that Democratic candidates won nearly every statewide seat on the ballot. The exact tally of 16 flips may rise or fall as counties finish counting.
Texas County Courthouse and Judicial Election Results 2026: Tarrant, Collin and Harris
Tarrant County Race Margins (Democratic share)
County Judge (Simmons) | ████████████████████████████ 56.40%
District Atty (Burks) | ████████████████████████████ 55.96%
| County Race | 2026 Result |
|---|---|
| Tarrant County judge | Alisa Simmons (D) 56.40%, Tim O’Hare (R) 43.60% |
| Tarrant district attorney | Tiffany Burks (D) 55.96%, Phil Sorrells (R) 44.04% |
| Tarrant criminal district courts | Democrats hold 6 of 11 benches |
| Tarrant Commissioners Court | 4-1 Democratic, from 3-2 Republican |
| Collin Commissioner Precinct 4 | Julie Holmer (D) about 53% |
| Harris County judge | Letitia Plummer (D) |
Source: Star-Telegram via Yahoo News, November 4, 2026; KERA News; Religion News Service.
Tarrant County produced the clearest courthouse shift. Simmons beat O’Hare, the incumbent county judge, and Burks unseated District Attorney Phil Sorrells. Democrats defeated Republican incumbents in 4 criminal district court races and now hold 6 of the 11 benches. O’Hare said voters decided to go in a different direction.
Collin and Harris counties followed the same pattern. Holmer won Collin’s Precinct 4 seat, and Harris County Republican judges lost in the statewide wave. Plummer won the Harris County judge job in a county of about 2.7 million registered voters. Tarrant had been the largest urban Republican bastion before this election.
FAQ: Texas Midterm Election Results 2026
Who won the Texas Senate race in 2026?
James Talarico won with 55.08% against Ken Paxton’s 42.99%, according to unofficial results.
Who won the Texas governor’s race in 2026?
Gina Hinojosa beat Gov. Greg Abbott with 52.82% to 45.69%.
When did Democrats last win a Texas Senate seat?
In 1988, when Lloyd Bentsen won.
How many people voted in the 2026 Texas midterms?
About 9.8 million, a record for a Texas midterm.
Did Tarrant County vote Democratic in 2026?
Yes. Talarico won 58.75% to 39.52% in Tarrant, and Hinojosa won by more than 14 points.
Did Collin County flip in 2026?
Collin gave Talarico 55% and Hinojosa 51.5%. Trump won about 55% there in 2024.
Which Texas border counties flipped in 2026?
Cameron, Hidalgo, Maverick and Webb moved toward Democrats. Hinojosa won 70% in Cameron.
How many Texas US House seats did Republicans win in 2026?
Republicans will hold 24 seats, down 1 from the outgoing Congress.
Who is the new Texas lieutenant governor?
Democrat Vikki Goodwin defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Did Democrats win the Texas House in 2026?
Democrats had 76 seats and Republicans 61 by Wednesday afternoon, according to the Houston Chronicle. Final counts may change.
Who won the Texas railroad commissioner race in 2026?
Democrat Jon Rosenthal beat Republican Bo French and is the first Democrat to win the office since 1990.
Are the Texas results final?
No. These are unofficial results. Counties canvass mail and provisional ballots before certification.
When was the Texas Senate race called in 2026?
CBS News projected Talarico the winner at 10:55 p.m. ET on November 3, 2026.
Who won the Tarrant County judge race in 2026?
Democrat Alisa Simmons beat Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare, 56.40% to 43.60%.
Who won Texas’s 15th Congressional District in 2026?
Democrat Bobby Pulido defeated Rep. Monica De La Cruz in South Texas. CBS News projected the flip at 12:42 a.m. ET.
How long had Democrats gone without a statewide win in Texas?
Since 1994, a drought of 32 years.
What did Greg Abbott say after losing in 2026?
Abbott conceded to Hinojosa and said he was leaving Texas in far better shape.
Did Trump’s Texas redistricting plan work in 2026?
No. Republicans lost 4 of the 5 redrawn seats and now hold 24 US House seats from Texas.
How many votes did Talarico win by in 2026?
He won by about 1,195,369 votes, or 12.09 points, according to unofficial results from KHOU 11 and ABC News reporting.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.