Losing Texas in Tuesday’s devastating midterm elections means much more for Republicans than losing a political stronghold. Democrat Gina Hinojosa’s victory over Governor Greg Abbott puts the future of one of America’s largest state-led border-security operations in question, potentially depriving President Donald Trump of his most powerful state partner in immigration enforcement.
Hinojosa defeated the three-term incumbent by roughly seven points, a considerable margin in a previously deep-red state, becoming Texas’s first Democratic governor since 1995. Democrats also captured the lieutenant governorship, attorney general’s office and state House, while James Talarico defeated Trump-endorsed Ken Paxton for the Senate seat. In a rare bright spot, Republicans managed to hold the state Senate, making it their only remaining legislative stronghold in Austin.
