DALLAS – James Talarico scored a long-awaited win for Democrats in Texas, notching a victory over Republican Ken Paxton in the high-profile Senate race that shattered spending records.
The win was historic — and shocking given President Trump carried the traditionally red state by nearly 14 points two years ago.
It marked the first time since 1994 that a Democrat captured statewide office in Texas. The victory immediately fueled debate over whether Mr. Talarico’s success was a political anomaly or evidence of bigger changes in a state Republicans have controlled for three decades.
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It also turned attention to Gov. Greg Abbott, raising fresh questions about whether the three-term Republican governor’s political standing could also be vulnerable, along with other down-ticket Republicans.
Mr. Talarico, 37, a former middle school teacher, made his Christian faith central to his campaign, framing his policy agenda around Jesus’ commands to love God and love your neighbor as he pursues a divinity degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He also ran against the longstanding Texas establishment that has ruled Austin for decades.
Mr. Talarico piled up huge margins in urban Democratic strongholds, including Dallas County and Harris County, home to Houston. He also ran strong in the suburbs.
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The victory also marked a setback for Mr. Trump. He helped power Mr. Paxton, the state attorney general, to victory in the GOP runoff over veteran Sen. John Cornyn, despite looming public concerns among Senate Republican leaders that Mr. Paxton’s personal and political baggage made him a weaker general election candidate.
Mr. Paxton was running in his first nationally competitive general election race amid voter frustration over the economy and fallout from the Iran war. High gas prices, rising grocery costs and concerns among farmers about tariffs emerged as headwinds for Republicans.
In 2023, the Republican-led Texas House of Representatives voted 121–23 to impeach Mr. Paxton for bribery, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and misuse of public funds tied to real estate developers. The Senate later acquitted him.
Mr. Paxton’s wife also filed for divorce last year on biblical grounds, alleging her husband had committed adultery. His wife, nonetheless, urged voters to support him in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Still, Mr. Paxton had the backing of the world’s richest man. Elon Musk funnelled more than $200 million into supporting his candidacy, according to a New York Times analysis.
Even that money was not enough to overcome broader political currents, including frustration among some voters who wanted to send Mr. Trump a message.
Salman Abidi, 54, a music and media promoter from the Dallas area, said he voted for Mr. Trump in 2024 but planned to back Mr. Talarico and Democrats in the Senate race.
He said he still supports Mr. Trump but believes “right now, there are things he’s not handling the right way,” and said the president’s approach is deepening divisions in the country.
• Seth McLaughlin reported from Detroit.
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