Updated / Wednesday, 4 Nov 2026 06:27
Getty
Democrat James Talarico said "we defeated Goliath" after winning a US Senate seat in Texas, dealing a historic blow to Republicans.
Mr Talarico, a former schoolteacher, defeated the state's attorney general Ken Paxton, a close ally of President Donald Trump who was heavily backed by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The result was a major setback for Mr Trump, who threw his weight behind Mr Paxton and made the state a campaign priority.
"In this race, we went up against our own Goliaths.
"The richest man in the world, the most powerful man in the world, and the entire Washington, DC establishment," Mr Talarico told a victory rally in the Texas capital, Austin.
In another political earthquake for the deeply conservative southern border state, Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated incumbent Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Mr Talarico and Ms Hinojosa are the first Democrats to win statewide office in Texas since 1994.
"It's a huge win for Texas, but it's a giant win for the United States, having James Talarico in the Senate to try to wrest control of this government that's out of control," said Kathy Jackoway, an Austin resident in her 60s, who shouted and cried when the results were announced.
"Everybody is suffering. Everybody is hurting, and Trump is busy building monuments to himself."
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Anisha, 29, said she hoped the two Democrats would govern "for everyone, not just the billionaires, not just the elite."
The landmark victories for Democrats could signal that Texas, the country's second most populous state with 40 electoral votes, is becoming competitive in national elections, a shift that could reshape the electoral map for future races.
The results mark a bruising defeat for tech multi-billionaire Elon Musk, who spent more than $200 million to support Mr Talarico's rival, according to federal filings.The world's richest man, Mr Musk has moved the headquarters of Tesla, SpaceX and X to Texas, and has a growing business stake in the state.
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Source: RTÉ News
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