Democrats won control of the Texas House in Tuesday's midterm elections, the first time in more than two decades, according to reporting from The Texas Tribune. Voters also defeated Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Gina Hinojosa is set to become governor. By early Wednesday afternoon, the Associated Press had called 11 Republican-held seats for Democrats, and Republican incumbents conceded three others.
Democrats needed to flip 14 seats to claim a majority and led in at least seven more Republican districts where all Election Day returns were in. If those results hold, Democrats would enter the January legislative session with 83 seats to Republicans' 67. Results could still change after recounts and the counting of provisional and mail-in ballots. Republicans kept control of the state Senate. Democrat Vikki Goodwin defeated Patrick and is poised to serve as the Senate's presiding officer, though the GOP majority was expected to consider limiting her powers.
Republican data consultant Ross Hunt said the party did not yet have a full picture of its losses but that Republicans appeared likely to lose control of the House. State Rep. Christina Morales, who chairs the House Democrats' campaign arm, said flipping the chamber had been the party's goal from the beginning, and that Democrats were cautiously optimistic.