For decades, Texas was considered Donald Trump’s Republican fortress. But American voters have delivered a political shock, with Democrats sweeping Congress and turning one of the country’s strongest Republican states blue in the midterm elections.
The Democratic victory marks a dramatic reversal of political fortunes, with the party reclaiming control of both chambers of the US Congress and weakening the Republican Party’s grip on Washington.
According to the latest election projections, Democrats have secured 54 Senate seats, including two independents aligned with them, against 44 Republican seats, with two races yet to be called. In the House of Representatives, Democrats have secured 228 seats against 139 Republican seats, with 68 races still awaiting final results. A total of 218 seats is required to control the 435-member House.
The results represent a major Democratic comeback, with Republicans losing seven Senate seats and at least 25 House districts. The party also recorded victories in several traditionally Republican states, including Texas, Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Perhaps the most striking development came from Texas, a state that has voted Republican in presidential elections for decades.
Democratic candidate James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the US Senate race, securing approximately 55.05 per cent of the vote against Paxton’s 43.14 per cent. The victory ended a Republican-held Senate seat in a state where no Democrat had won a Senate election since 1988.
The Democratic gains extended beyond the Senate. Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, receiving 52.94 per cent against his 45.66 per cent, making her Texas’s first Latina governor.
Democrats also won the lieutenant governor’s race, with Vikki Goodwin defeating incumbent Dan Patrick, and secured the attorney general’s office.
In Texas’s congressional races, Democrats had won 11 declared House districts, compared with nine Republican victories at the time of reporting, with other contests still being counted.
The shift was particularly visible in traditionally Republican suburban areas around Dallas-Fort Worth, including Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties, which backed Democratic statewide candidates after supporting Republicans in 2024.
Voter participation was also significant, with more than 58 million Americans casting early ballots before Election Day, according to election coverage. Texas alone recorded more than 7.5 million early votes.
However, the final nationwide turnout figure, including Election Day voting, was not yet available in the preliminary results. The United States had approximately 250 million eligible voters as it happened .
The Democratic takeover gives the party greater power to challenge Trump’s administration, scrutinise government spending, launch congressional investigations and block legislation and appointments.
The outcome also raises questions about the Republican Party’s ability to maintain its political support ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
While Trump retains executive powers, Democratic control of Congress means his remaining two years in office could be marked by legislative battles and increased scrutiny from opposition lawmakers.
