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Politics

Gina Hinojosa Defeats Greg Abbott in Texas Governor Race as James Talarico Wins Senate Seat

Democrat Gina Hinojosa denied Republican Gov. Greg Abbott a fourth term and will become the first Latina governor of Texas, while Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for a U.S. Senate seat long held by Republicans, according to race calls by the Associated Press and CNN.

By admin Nov. 3, 2026 · 11:41 PM ET 2 min read

Texas State Capitol building in Austin at dusk, with trees on the lawn in front

Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas governor’s race on Tuesday, and Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate, according to calls by the Associated Press and CNN.

Abbott conceded the governor’s race on Tuesday night at his election-night watch party in Austin. “After looking at all the details of every county in the entire state, I made the decision to go ahead and call Gina Hinojosa and congratulate her on winning this race for governor of the state of Texas,” Abbott said.

Voters seen from behind standing at voting booths in a polling place, with an American flag on the wall

With about 69 percent of precincts reporting, the Associated Press results showed Hinojosa with about 4.07 million votes to Abbott’s 3.02 million. Hinojosa, 52, is an Austin state representative. When she takes office in January 2027, she will be the first Latina sworn in as Texas governor and the first Democrat in the office since Ann Richards left office in 1995.

Senate seat changes hands

CNN and the Associated Press called the Senate race for Talarico. The Associated Press called it shortly after 9 p.m., with Talarico at 60 percent of the vote and Paxton at 39 percent. Later totals from the Texas Secretary of State showed Talarico leading 55 percent to 44 percent with 201 of the state’s 254 counties reporting.

Downtown Austin skyline at night with lit office towers reflected in a river

Outgoing Sen. John Cornyn congratulated Talarico on X. “The voters have spoken, and I want to extend my congratulations to James Talarico on his election to the U.S. Senate,” Cornyn wrote.

Hinojosa faces a Republican-led legislature

Hinojosa built her campaign around public education and household costs, according to NPR. She opposed the private-school voucher program backed by Abbott that began in 2026 with $1 billion in tax money for students attending private schools. Abbott, 68, promised to lower property taxes and said he had made Texas safer, in part by securing the border.

Texas state flag waving on a flagpole against an evening sky

David Crockett, a political science professor at Trinity University in San Antonio, said before the election that passing legislation through a Republican-led legislature would not be easy for Hinojosa.

Reporting based on coverage by the Associated Press, the El Paso Times, NPR and USA Today.

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