Democrat James Talarico, branded 'Talafreako' by Trump, defeats Ken Paxton to become Texas's first Democratic senator since 1988
James Talarico's post on X celebrating victory, as his 12-point win over Ken Paxton ended a 38-year Republican stranglehold on the Texas Senate seat despite Elon Musk's $47 million personal backing of Paxton.Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, after his Senate defeat — the result, part of a broader Democratic midterm wave, helped solidify Democratic control of Congress.
Talarico's victory — by a crushing 12-point margin with 84% of votes counted — also helped Democrats secure a Senate majority, flipping Republican-held seats in Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Maine on the same night.
Elon Musk poured over $150m into the Texas race alone and an estimated $446m across the midterms overall — and still lost.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott was simultaneously ousted by Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who becomes the state's first-ever Latina governor.
Appearing on 'The View', Talarico said he is 'looking forward' to working with Republicans 'who said some mean things about me.'
