Texas voters elected Democrats to the governor’s office, U.S. Senate, lieutenant governor’s office, and six other statewide contests Tuesday, ending decades of Republican dominance in statewide elections.
In victory speeches and statements, the incoming officials identified public school oversight, taxpayer spending, government contracts, data centers, and energy costs as priorities.
Governor-Elect Gina Hinojosa: Education And Government Contracts
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-District 49), who defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, said Abbott called to congratulate her and offered transition assistance. “Tomorrow, our transition begins,” she told supporters in remarks published by her campaign.
Hinojosa pledged, “We will end the era of no-bid contracts.” She also said, “on day one, I will fire Mike Morath,” referring to the Texas education commissioner. However, under Texas Education Code Section 7.053, the governor’s removal power requires the advice and consent of the Senate.
She pledged to address what she called the “Texas vouchers scam” and prevent school closures. Her campaign has also proposed reviewing education contracts and raising teacher pay. A proposed $1,500 payment to households from state reserves is not an approved benefit, and repeal of the school choice program would require legislative action.
Hinojosa’s victory follows several campaign controversies previously reported by The Dallas Express. Campaign finance records showed she received $1.2 million from billionaire Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker while campaigning for an economy she described as “built for the people, not billionaires.” Her campaign also received a $25,000 in-kind contribution for digital advertising from Texas Majority PAC, which received $1.4 million from George Soros in 2023.
Abbott also criticized Hinojosa over her legislative votes against restrictions on biological males competing in girls’ school sports and measures concerning parental authority over students’ social transitions.
In a separate investigation, The Dallas Express documented $57,000 in consulting payments from Hinojosa’s campaign to Bellsynder Group LLC, associated with Suzanne Bellsnyder, whose October 31 endorsement of Hinojosa in The Dallas Morning News failed to disclose her paid relationship with the campaign.
The Dallas Morning News subsequently acknowledged the conflict, stating, “Had we been aware of this conflict, we would have declined to publish this piece. We regret that we were not.” Despite that admission, the newspaper chose to leave the endorsement online. The decision raised a separate journalistic ethics concern: Why did the newspaper continue publishing an endorsement its own editors acknowledged should never have been published?
Lt. Gov.-Elect Vikki Goodwin: Public Schools And Senate Leadership
State Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-District 47) defeated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, becoming the first woman elected lieutenant governor. “After 30 long years, a new generation of women have shown up to demand change. We are ready to lead Texas,” she told an Austin election-night gathering, as reported by KUT.
Goodwin has called for higher public school funding and teacher pay, expanded health coverage, and changes to the state’s abortion restrictions. Patrick acknowledged the result, saying, “It was a fair election, and I accept the majority will of the voters,” according to the same report.
The lieutenant governor presides over the Texas Senate, but Senate rules and its membership will determine how much control Goodwin can exercise over committees and legislation.
U.S. Sen.-Elect James Talarico: Campaign Finance And Health Care
State Rep. James Talarico (D-District 50) defeated Republican Ken Paxton for the seat held by retiring U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). “We just took back Texas,” he declared at his election-night rally. “We just proved that all the money in the world is no match for the people of Texas,” according to a video of his remarks.
Talarico called for curbing wealthy donors’ influence, changing federal economic policy, and expanding health coverage and education funding in his speech. Any federal legislative changes will require approval in Congress.
Talarico’s victory follows several controversies previously investigated by The Dallas Express. Despite campaigning against billionaire influence, Lone Star Rising PAC, an independent super PAC supporting his candidacy, received $1 million from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, whose past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have drawn scrutiny. The contribution was not made directly to Talarico’s campaign.
Talarico’s religious statements and legislative record also generated controversy. He previously declared that “God is nonbinary,” voted against Texas legislation restricting “sex-altering” procedures for minors, and incorrectly described the state’s abortion ban as applying even when a mother’s life is endangered. Texas law provides exceptions for certain life-threatening medical conditions.
Separately, a September investigation obtained a recording in which Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair Sheena Flanary said Talarico’s campaign had rebuffed her efforts to help, including an offer to host a fundraiser. Flanary also expressed concerns about the campaign’s treatment of black Democratic voters.
Attorney General-Elect Nathan Johnson: Litigation And Consumer Protection
State Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas) defeated Republican Mayes Middleton. “This is a tremendous honor, and a tremendous responsibility,” Johnson said in a post-election statement. He promised an attorney general who would “above all uphold the rule of law.”
Johnson has identified consumer protection, antitrust enforcement, child support, and government accountability as priorities. He has also said he would challenge actions by President Donald Trump’s administration when he considers them unlawful. The attorney general can choose litigation priorities within the office’s statutory responsibilities.
Agriculture Commissioner-Elect Clayton Tucker: Data Centers And Farms
Lampasas rancher Clayton Tucker defeated Republican Nate Sheets. “We did it, Texas! We proved that only organized people can beat organized money,” Tucker stated after his victory.
Tucker has sought a moratorium on new artificial intelligence data centers and pledged agricultural impact studies examining effects on farmland, water, and energy demand. His agency could advocate regulations and examine agricultural impacts but cannot independently halt all data-center construction statewide.
Land Commissioner-Elect Benjamin Flores: Disaster Recovery And State Land
Benjamin Flores defeated incumbent Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham. Flores has called for greater transparency in state land management and disaster-recovery spending. In his post victory remarks, he stated, “I came here from Mexico City in 1996 with two bags and a big dream. Tonight, Texas elected me its first Latino Land Commissioner.”
Flores’ position on immigration enforcement marks a departure from Buckingham’s cooperation with President Donald Trump’s border security agenda. In 2024, Buckingham offered a 1,400-acre state-owned property in Starr County for federal immigration processing, detention, and deportation operations, as reported in October by Texas Public Radio. Flores has argued that immigration enforcement falls outside the land commissioner’s responsibilities.
On his campaign website, Flores pledged to prevent state land under the General Land Office’s control from being used for detention facilities or enforcement activities that he believes violate human dignity, due process, or the rule of law. The differing positions could affect how the state cooperates with federal immigration authorities under the incoming land commissioner.
The General Land Office oversees state lands, coastal programs, disaster recovery, and veterans’ services. New contracting or administrative policies would still have to comply with state and federal requirements.
Comptroller-Elect Sarah Eckhardt: School Choice And Taxpayer Spending
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) defeated Republican Don Huffines. Eckhardt has promised more scrutiny of school choice spending, government contracts, and tax administration. “Texas, this is a realignment. We have won this state back for working Texans,” she stated in post victory remarks.
Eckhardt also pledged to review the $50 million contract with Odyssey, which administers the education savings account program, and improve public spending data. The comptroller’s office can carry out reviews within its legal authority but cannot repeal a statute or reallocate appropriated funds unilaterally.
Railroad Commissioner-Elect Jon Rosenthal: Oil And Gas Oversight
State Rep. Jon Rosenthal (D-District 135) defeated Republican Bo French. “I will spend the next six years proving that your support was justified,” Rosenthal stated.
Rosenthal, a former oilfield engineer, has prioritized abandoned-well cleanup, stronger enforcement, affordable energy, and oversight of infrastructure impacts from data centers. The three-member Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas production and related infrastructure, not the statewide electric grid. Its two other commissioners are Republicans.
Rosenthal’s victory follows controversy over his social media activity, previously investigated by The Dallas Express. An October 15 investigation found that Rosenthal followed two Bluesky accounts featuring “transgender”-related content, including one linking to adult subscription platforms, and a separate X account posting pornographic videos. The investigation also identified two posts that Rosenthal’s Bluesky account had liked. A subsequent review found that Rosenthal had unfollowed the X account but continued following the two Bluesky accounts.
What Can Change First?
Incoming Texas statewide officials are expected to take office in January 2027. Agency reviews, staffing decisions, and enforcement priorities can begin under existing authority, but proposed household payments, changes to tax rates, school choice repeal, and broad data-center moratoriums face legislative and legal limits. Election results remain unofficial pending canvassing and certification.
Provided by Dallas Express
