Texas Secretary of State Robert S. Howden’s results showed James Talarico had 4,397,474 early votes, 148,101 more than Ken Paxton’s total in the Senate race.
The office tally listed Talarico at 5,444,982 votes overall, with 4,397,474 cast early. Paxton had 4,249,373 overall and 3,232,667 early votes.
The Independent reported that Talarico defeated Paxton and that Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The outlet said Hinojosa would become Texas’ first Latina governor and the first Democrat sworn into the office in more than 30 years.
KHOU 11 reported that 7.7 million Texans voted early, a record for a Texas midterm election. Before the election, a 254 Labs/YouGov Blue survey gave Talarico 51% and Paxton 43%, with 5% undecided, as EconoTimes reported in its pre-election poll coverage.
Republican strategist Karl Rove said Wednesday on Fox News Radio’s The Brian Kilmeade Show that Paxton “drew down the entire Republican ticket.”
