Texas Democrats Win Statewide

What happened

Updated 6:00am ET

Democrats swept Texas’ statewide elections Tuesday, prompting Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to call the results a “Watergate-level repudiation” of his party.
James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton by about 12 percentage points for a U.S. Senate seat, while Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott.
Democrats also won control of the Texas House for the first time in more than two decades, though Republicans retained a state Senate majority.
Cruz said Republicans failed to address voters’ financial pain, pointing to high prices, tariffs and the prolonged Iran war.
Ahead of Hinojosa taking office, Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison urged Abbott to call a special legislative session to limit the emergency powers she would inherit.

How the left told it

Left-leaning outlets framed the sweep as a historic Democratic breakthrough after decades of defeat. The New York Times emphasized years of organizing and promises of economic relief, while PBS NewsHour examined Latino voters’ shift toward Democrats. The Daily Beast highlighted the once-unlikely Texas House takeover.

How the right told it

Right-leaning outlets generally presented the results as a historic Republican defeat demanding a reckoning. Fox News highlighted Cruz’s “blue tsunami” assessment and warning that Republicans had lost touch with voters. The Washington Examiner emphasized neglected cost-of-living concerns, while the New York Post also foregrounded his warnings about Democratic rule.