Texas Election Midterms 2026: Democrats Lead in Senate, Governor Races

The texas election on Nov. 3, 2026 shows Democratic candidates pulling ahead in several high‑profile races as vote counts approach three‑quarters of the total.

Senate Race Results

State Rep. James Talarico (D) holds a clear lead over Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). The Associated Press indicates Talarico has received 4,379,006 votes, translating to 58.4% of the ballots counted, while Paxton trails with 2,990,371 votes (39.9%). A Libertarian, Ted Brown, captured 1.7%.

Governor Race Overview

In the governor's contest, Democrat Gina Hinojosa is ahead of incumbent Republican Greg Abbott. Hinojosa’s tally stands at 4,217,866 votes (56.3%) versus Abbott’s 3,177,630 votes (42.4%). A Green Party candidate, Pat Dixon, earned 1.3% of the vote.

Other Contested Offices

U.S. House races also reflect Democratic strength. In one district, Democrat Jon Rosenthal leads Republican Bo French with 54.9% to 43.3%, while a Libertarian candidate garnered 1.7%.

Statewide, Democrat Vikki Goodwin leads Republican Dan Patrick for the Texas Senate with 54.2% to 43.4%, and Democrat Nathan Johnson outpaces Republican Mayes Middleton in the Texas House, holding 54.7% to 43.8%.

Geographic Breakdown

The results are broken down by county type. Urban counties—Harris, Bexar, Dallas, Tarrant and Travis—show strong Democratic margins in both Senate and governor races. Suburban counties such as Collin, Denton and Fort Bend also lean Democratic, though margins are narrower. Border counties like El Paso and Hidalgo display competitive figures, while exurban and rural areas tend to favor Republicans, but the overall statewide totals still favor Democrats.

What Comes Next

With roughly 72% of votes tallied, the Associated Press has not yet declared final winners, but the current leads suggest a Democratic sweep of key statewide offices. Observers will watch the remaining precincts, especially in rural and exurban regions, for any shifts.

For a broader view of Democratic performance in this cycle, see CNN Election Results: Democrats Capture Both Chambers in Midterms.

Sources: The Texas Tribune, The New York Times, Politico.