Democrat James Talarico wins Texas Senate seat
Andrew Schneider reports for NPR that Democrat James Talarico has defeated Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a close Donald Trump ally, in the 2026 U.S. Senate race, per an Associated Press race call — making Paxton the first Republican to lose a Texas Senate seat since 1990. NPR calls it a major blow to Trump and Republicans, noting Paxton's scandals and divorce, Trump's attacks on Talarico, and the Democrat's education-focused, viral campaign.
