Skip to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.Join todayAlready a member? Log inRachel Dobkin in New YorkFriday 06 November 2026 08:05 GMTSenator-elect James Talarico and Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa in Texas defeated Republicans in an election upset (Getty)Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in a major Texas election upset, securing over 5.4 million total votes.Talarico received nearly 4.4 million early votes alone, exceeding Paxton's overall vote total of 4.2 million.Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Greg Abbott, becoming Texas's first Latina governor and its first Democratic governor in over 30 years.Paxton suffered from high disapproval ratings following his 2023 impeachment, which Republican strategist Karl Rove noted dragged down the entire state GOP ticket.Trump, who campaigned heavily in Texas for the Republican candidates, blamed Abbott's defeat on the governor allegedly becoming a Republican In Name Only.In fullTexas went so blue Talarico got more early votes than Paxton got in totalMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in