Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas' closely watched U.S. Senate race, delivering a historic breakthrough for Democrats in a state Republicans have dominated for decades.

Why it matters: Talarico's victory ends the nation's longest Democratic drought in statewide elections and flips a critical Senate seat as Democrats fight for control of the chamber.

  • The Austin-area state representative becomes the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988.
  • His win also marks the first Democratic victory in a Texas statewide election since 1994, a stunning reversal in a state President Trump carried by nearly 14 points in 2024.

The big picture: The race became the nation's most expensive Senate battle after Texas Attorney General Paxton defeated longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary, with massive spending from both parties.

  • Republican leaders had warned that Paxton's nomination could jeopardize the seat, and the party poured enormous resources into defending it.

On the campaign trail: Talarico, a former public school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, built his campaign around affordability, public education and criticism of wealthy donors' influence over politics.

  • Paxton, a three-term Texas attorney general and close ally of President Trump, emphasized immigration enforcement and conservative policies.

Between the lines: Paxton's candidacy exposed divisions within the Texas GOP, with party leaders initially warning that nominating the attorney general could endanger a seat Republicans had held for decades.

  • Paxton defeated Cornyn in the May Republican primary runoff after securing Trump's endorsement, setting up the costly general election battle.
  • His campaign was also shadowed by years of legal and ethical controversies, including his 2023 impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House. The state Senate later acquitted him.

The backdrop: Democrats have spent decades trying to turn Texas blue, with former Rep. Beto O'Rourke coming within roughly 220,000 votes of unseating Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018.

  • Talarico's win marks a breakthrough for a party that has repeatedly fallen short in statewide contests, even as Texas' population and political landscape have changed.

What's next: Talarico will take office in January.