Texas elects a Democratic senator for the first time since 1988 as James Talarico beats Musk-backed Ken Paxton
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 addresses supporters after his defeat, thanking his family and Texans — a loss that also stung Donald Trump, who had personally endorsed Paxton over the more electable John Cornyn.
Democrat James Talarico crushed Elon Musk's $47 million personal investment in Republican Ken Paxton by 12 points, flipping the Texas Senate seat blue for the first time in 38 years. Fellow Democrat Gina Hinojosa simultaneously beat Governor Greg Abbott, taking the governor's mansion for the first time in 36 years. Together, the results handed Democrats control of Congress in what sources are calling a midterm rout driven by anti-Trump sentiment.
Talarico told supporters: 'There is something deeply wrong with a political system that allows one trillionaire to buy his own personal US Senator.'
Musk spent an estimated $446 million backing Republican candidates across the midterms overall, making him the top individual donor of the cycle.
Paxton's defeat stung doubly for Trump, who had personally endorsed him over the more electable John Cornyn, calling Paxton a 'true MAGA warrior'.
