Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas U.S. Senate race, the Associated Press called late Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The AP called the race at approximately 10:04 p.m., with Talarico leading with 59.4% of the vote, Houston Public Media reported. Talarico is the first Democrat to win a statewide race in Texas since 1994 and the first Democrat elected to a Texas U.S. Senate seat since 1988, according to KCRA, citing AP.

Rockwall County voters weighed in on the race at 14 polling locations across the county on Election Day, including Heath City Hall, the Rockwall County Courthouse Annex and Gene Burton College and Career Academy on John King Boulevard. The county used the Countywide Polling Place Program, which allowed voters to cast ballots at any location in Rockwall County, WFAA reported.

Results remain unofficial until certified by the Texas Secretary of State.

What the outcome means

The race could help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate for the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. Republicans held a 53-47 advantage going into the election, according to Fox 4. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats for a majority.

More than $570 million in political advertising made this the most expensive Senate race in American history, according to the Dallas Morning News, citing ad-tracking firm AdImpact.

Record turnout statewide

More than 7.7 million Texans voted early, in person or by mail, through the state's 12-day early voting period, the Texas Tribune reported. That amounted to 40.5% of registered voters, the highest midterm early-turnout rate on record in modern-day Texas.

Texas entered the election with more than 19 million registered voters, a new state record, according to the Texas Secretary of State. The Rockwall County Herald-Banner reported that Rockwall County voters faced a lengthy ballot that included races for U.S. senator, governor, county offices and judicial seats.

The candidates

Paxton, the three-term state attorney general, defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in a May 2026 Republican primary runoff after receiving an endorsement from Trump. He has served as attorney general since 2015, according to Houston Public Media.

Talarico, a four-term state representative from the Austin suburbs, is a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian. He led Paxton by a wide margin in fundraising for most of the year, though conservative super PACs offset that advantage with heavy spending in the campaign's final months, Houston Public Media reported.

Libertarian Ted Brown and several write-in candidates also appeared on the ballot.

Official results from the Texas Secretary of State will continue to be updated as counties report. The new Senate term begins in January 2027.