Texas Senate Race Could Decide Senate Control

Texas’s Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico is unusually close, putting the state’s decades-long Republican dominance and potentially control of the Senate in play. Talarico has campaigned against Paxton’s legal and ethics controversies and argued that the political system favors wealthy interests, while Paxton has sought to mobilize Republicans by portraying Talarico as too progressive for Texas. The contest is unfolding amid voter frustration over high living costs and the war with Iran, and President Donald Trump has backed Paxton and amplified attacks on Talarico. Democrats see population growth and shifting suburban communities as an opening to build support, while Republicans are counting on their traditional turnout advantage, with signs of weaker early participation raising concerns in the party. The outcome could shape both future Democratic investment in Texas and the broader national political map.