Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race, according to statewide election reporting. It was the first Democratic win in a Texas Senate election since 1988. Democrat Gina Hinojosa also defeated incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, ending three decades of Republican control of the governor's office. Democrats Vikki Goodwin for lieutenant governor and Nathan Johnson for attorney general also won.
In Panola County, Republican candidates led in most local races. The county's Nov. 3 results report shows 8,642 ballots cast out of 17,856 registered voters, a turnout of 48.40%. Paxton received 6,440 votes in the county's U.S. Senate race, compared with 1,929 for Talarico. Abbott received 6,607 votes to Hinojosa's 1,859.
Republican Nathaniel Moran received 6,744 votes in the county's District 1 U.S. House race, compared with 1,786 for Democrat Yolanda R. Prince. State Sen. Bryan Hughes received 6,637 votes to Democrat Latricia Ambroz's 1,751.