Democrats won major statewide races in Texas, ending three decades of Republican dominance, according to Dr. Matthew Wilson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. Democrat James Talarico, a state representative, was elected to the U.S. Senate. Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who had served three terms. Abbott said in his concession that leading the state had been the greatest honor of his life.
Democrats gained control of the Texas House, while Republicans kept their majority in the Texas Senate. Wilson said any major state action would likely need to be pragmatic and bipartisan. In East Texas, Republicans held their congressional and state legislative seats. U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler, said the results should be a wake-up call for Republicans to return to core conservative values.
Kristen Hardin-Sigler, chair of the Smith County Democratic Party, said Democrats in the area did not win local seats but ran in closer races than in past cycles. Clayton Tucker, who was elected Texas agriculture commissioner, said he plans to work with state lawmakers on a Texas farm bill that complements federal legislation. Dr. John Barrett, a political science professor at LeTourneau University, said both Austin and Washington will likely need to compromise.