Hinojosa to Take Oath as Texas Governor in January
Democrats captured every statewide office in Texas on Nov. 3, ending 36 years of Republican control of the governorship and shifting key legislative and judicial posts to the minority party.
By Layla Richardson ·
Statewide power in Texas has shifted to the Democratic Party following the Nov. 3 election. Every major executive office up for vote is now held by a Democrat, including the governorship, the U.S. Senate seat, and the lieutenant governor's office. The change will take effect in January when the new officials take their posts.
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa is set to become the first Latina governor of Texas on Jan. 19, 2027. She defeated former Gov. Greg Abbott, who served in the role for 12 years, in a close contest where 52.8% of voters chose Hinojosa and 45.7% chose Abbott. A Democrat last held the governor's seat in 1990 under Ann Richards. Before her election, Hinojosa served as a state representative and a board member for Austin Independent School District.
In the U.S. Senate race, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton by a margin of 55% to 43%. Talarico, who previously served four terms as a state representative, becomes Texas' first Democratic senator since 1988. He will serve a six-year term. Paxton's decision to run for the Senate left the attorney general's office open, a position won by Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson over Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton. Johnson will serve a four-year term representing the state in civil litigation.
Democratic state Rep. Vikki Goodwin defeated incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who sought a third term. Goodwin will preside over the state Senate, controlling the flow of legislation, for a four-year term. Other Democratic victories include state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, who defeated incumbent Don Huffines for comptroller, a role that manages state finances and sales tax. She will serve a four-year term. State Rep. Jon Rosenthal won a seat on the railroad commissioner board, which regulates the oil and gas industry, defeating Bo French for a six-year term.
Benjamin Flores defeated incumbent Dawn Buckingham for land commissioner, a four-year role overseeing 13 million acres of state land and federal disaster relief funds. Clayton Tucker defeated Nate Sheets for agriculture commissioner, a position that assists farmers and addresses school nutrition issues. The election drew 9.8 million voters, representing 51.6% of registered Texans. This turnout exceeds the 45.9% rate recorded in 2022.
The Texas Legislature will resume operations on Jan. 12, 2027, one week before Hinojosa's inauguration. The new Democratic leadership will begin managing state affairs immediately following the legislative session start date.
