Democrats James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa win Texas Senate and governor races, ending decades of GOP statewide control

What happened

Democrats won two of the biggest races on the Texas ballot on Tuesday. State legislator James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for a U.S. Senate seat, the Associated Press reported in a story published by PBS NewsHour. CBS News projected that state Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

According to the AP, Talarico's win is the first statewide victory for a Democrat in Texas in more than 30 years. President Donald Trump carried the state by double digits two years ago, the AP noted. For more results, see our election coverage.

The U.S. Senate race

Who Talarico is

Talarico, 37, is a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, the AP reported. He will become Texas' first Democratic senator since 1993 and the Senate's youngest member. He will replace Sen. John Cornyn, 74, who lost the Republican primary to Paxton after Trump endorsed Paxton over him.

The AP said Senate GOP leaders had warned early on that Paxton's baggage could put the seat at risk. During his three terms as attorney general, Paxton faced a federal corruption investigation that did not result in charges. He was also impeached by the Texas House over accusations of abusing his office to help a political donor and was later acquitted in the state Senate.

Campaign message and spending

Talarico focused on the rising cost of living and criticized billionaires he said were corrupting politics, the AP reported. He told crowds the biggest divide in the U.S. "is not left versus right, it's top versus bottom." Paxton, who avoided debating Talarico, attacked past statements Talarico made as a legislator. Talarico now calls those comments "cringey," according to the AP.

Both sides spent more than a half-billion dollars in combined campaign ads, according to AdImpact figures cited by the AP. Elon Musk contributed $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which then gave the same amount to Texas PAC, the largest contributor to Paxton's campaign. Musk also gave $10 million to the Lone Star Liberty PAC, which supported Paxton. Talarico often said on the trail, "Texas is not for sale."

The governor's race

A historic result

CBS News reported that Hinojosa will be the first Democrat elected governor of Texas in more than three decades. The last was Ann Richards, who served from 1991 to 1995. Hinojosa will also be the third woman to serve as Texas governor, after Richards and Miriam A. Ferguson.

Hinojosa, a state representative from Austin who grew up in McAllen, was challenging Abbott as he sought a fourth consecutive term. Abbott first took office in January 2015. A University of Texas at Austin poll released in August showed Abbott ahead 45% to 40%, with 10% undecided, CBS News reported.

Data centers and schools

The two candidates clashed over the fast growth of data centers in Texas, according to CBS News. Abbott announced a pause on new state permits for the facilities. Hinojosa questioned his commitment to that pause and joined other Democrats in calling for a moratorium until lawmakers set more protections for residents.

Hinojosa also opposed Abbott's school voucher program. She called for more investment in public schools, including higher teacher pay and changes to the state's standardized testing system.

Why it matters

The AP reported that Talarico's victory threatens Republican control of the U.S. Senate, where Democrats needed to gain four seats to retake the majority. The AP said his win showed how voter frustration midway through Trump's second term put Republicans at risk in typically safe territory. CBS News noted that Hinojosa's win ends a Republican hold on the governor's office that began in January 1995.

What to watch next

• Whether Democrats reach the four-seat gain the AP said they needed to retake the U.S. Senate majority.
• Talarico taking the Senate seat now held by Sen. John Cornyn.
• Hinojosa taking office after campaigning for a data center moratorium and against Abbott's school voucher program.