Texas Democrats won the Senate seat and governor’s office in the Nov. 3 election, Reuters reported, alongside several statewide posts tied to oversight of the state budget, land and major industries.
James Talarico won the Senate contest, and Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Gov. Greg Abbott for governor, Reuters reported. Vikki Goodwin beat Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, while Nathan Johnson won the attorney general’s office. EconoTimes previously covered the Associated Press call in Talarico’s Senate race.
Democrats also prevailed in four statewide contests linked to public finances and natural resources. The comptroller oversees the state budget; the land commissioner handles public lands; the agriculture commissioner oversees the farm economy; and the railroad commissioner covers the oil and gas industry, Reuters reported.
Reuters connected the Democratic gains to record turnout, particularly in Latino communities, and to divisions within the Republican coalition. It said some conservatives and independents had soured on inflation and the war with Iran. The victories ended a stretch of more than 30 years without a Democratic win in a statewide Texas office.
Campaign messages also differed: Democratic candidates emphasized household costs and government corruption, while Republican opponents focused on transgender rights and other cultural issues, Reuters reported.
Democrats also won two congressional races. Rep. Monica De La Cruz lost the Rio Grande Valley contest to Bobby Pulido, a Tejano singer, and Katy Padilla Stout prevailed in the sprawling 23rd District, Reuters reported. Reuters said Republican efforts to redraw Texas congressional maps for partisan advantage largely failed.
In her victory speech, Hinojosa said voters had delivered “a mandate for change.” Patrick, who lost to Goodwin, had led the Texas Senate’s conservative legislative agenda for more than a decade, Reuters reported.
Control of the Texas House remained unresolved Wednesday; Republicans have held the chamber since 2003. Republican voter Erika Kinder told Reuters she hoped the losses would reinvigorate her party, saying, “this is probably a good wake-up call.”
