Democrats sweep Texas statewide races

Democrats swept Texas statewide races on Tuesday, November 3, taking the U.S. Senate seat and governor’s office and winning the lieutenant governor and attorney general contests. The results ended a three-decade stretch without a Democratic statewide victory and marked a significant shift in a state long dominated by Republicans. James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Senate race. Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, becoming Texas’ first Latina governor. Abbott had spent more than $140 million against Hinojosa, and by early Wednesday all three Republican statewide candidates who lost had made concession statements, according to election coverage. Democrats also defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, with state Representative Vikki Goodwin winning the race. Their statewide victories extended beyond those offices: Democrats won the attorney general and railroad commissioner contests and continued to gain seats in the state House. As of Wednesday morning, their House gains raised the possibility of taking the chamber, but a majority was not established in the reporting. The Texas results came amid a broader Democratic advance. By early...