AP Calls the Texas Senate Race for James Talarico Over Ken Paxton; Texas Democrats' Senate Drought Had Run Back to 1988

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Democrat James Talarico won the U.S. Senate race in Texas on November 3, 2026, according to a race call by the Associated Press, which the Texas Tribune reported came shortly after 10 p.m. He led Republican Ken Paxton by margins that exceeded his narrow polling lead, and the Tribune reported that the Texas Democrats’ U.S. Senate drought extended back to 1988.

Sources & Citations

[1] James Talarico defeats Ken Paxton, giving Democrats their first U.S. Senate win in Texas since 1988 — Texas Tribune · Nov 3, 2026 Tier 2

[2] James Talarico wins Texas U.S. Senate race — NPR · Nov 3, 2026 Tier 2

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Cite this entry

The Cascade Ledger. “AP Calls the Texas Senate Race for James Talarico Over Ken Paxton; Texas Democrats' Senate Drought Had Run Back to 1988.” The Capture Cascade Timeline, November 3, 2026. https://capturecascade.org/event/2026-11-03--ap-calls-texas-senate-race-for-talarico-over-paxton-first-democratic-senate-win-in-texas-since-1988/