Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) issued a statement Wednesday congratulating Democratic state Rep. James Talarico on his projected victory over Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, according to the Washington Examiner.
"The voters have spoken, and I want to extend my congratulations to James Talarico on his election to the U.S. Senate," Cornyn wrote. "I look forward to meeting him and offering my assistance with his transition."
The congratulation comes after a brutal Republican primary in which Cornyn lost to Paxton in a runoff earlier this year. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton against the incumbent senator, a move that fractured the Texas GOP and ultimately paved the way for Talarico's win.
According to the Associated Press, which called the race shortly after 11 p.m., Talarico led Paxton with more than 59.4% of the vote. CNN projected Talarico the winner with 59.1% to Paxton's 39.3%. Ted Brown received 1.6%.
Talarico, a 37-year-old four-term state legislator from Austin and former middle school teacher, is set to become the first Democrat to win statewide in Texas since 1994 and the first Democratic U.S. senator from Texas since Lloyd Bentsen's 1988 victory. The seat is currently held by Cornyn.
ABC News posted on X that Cornyn congratulated Talarico after ABC projected the Democrat's win, with correspondent Jonathan Karl providing analysis.
"Texas Sen. John Cornyn congratulated Democrat James Talarico after ABC News projected Talarico will win the Texas Senate race over Republican Ken Paxton." — @ABC on X
The race drew national attention and massive outside spending. Republicans poured over $280 million into advertising, including more than $200 million from Elon Musk, making it the most expensive U.S. Senate contest on record, according to reporting from other outlets covering the race.
Paxton entered the general election carrying significant legal and ethical baggage. Trump's decision to back him over Cornyn drew warnings from other Republican leaders that Paxton would put the seat at risk. Those warnings proved accurate.
Talarico campaigned heavily on economic issues, tying voters' frustration with high gas and grocery prices to what he described as a system rigged by billionaires and corrupt politicians. His victory is expected to have coattails down the ballot, with Democrats poised to gain ground in the Texas House and local offices.
The loss represents a major blow to Republicans who had held the seat for decades. Texas had been the longest active streak of one-party dominance in any state. That streak is now broken.
For everyday Texans, the result means a new senator will be sworn in January, and the state's representation in Washington shifts for the first time in a generation. The Senate majority — which Republicans fought hard to protect — is now one seat narrower.
Our Take
Let's be clear about what happened here: Republicans handed Democrats a Senate seat because they couldn't get out of their own way. Cornyn was a reliable conservative vote, but he became the target of the America First movement, and Trump's endorsement of Paxton — a man with more baggage than a Delta terminal — was a gamble that failed spectacularly.
Patriots, this is what happens when you let personal grudges and primary purity tests override common sense. Paxton was warned about. Republicans were told he was unelectable. They ran him anyway, and now James Talarico — a Democrat who campaigned on class warfare and billionaire bashing — is heading to Washington.
Cornyn's gracious statement is classy, but it doesn't change the fact that the Texas GOP just lost a seat that was supposed to be safe. The question now is whether Republicans learn from this or keep lighting their own house on fire. The 2028 map won't be any kinder.
