Talarico projected to win Texas Senate race

Texas — Democrat James Talarico is projected to defeat Republican Ken Paxton in Texas’ U.S. Senate election, while Republican Karen Bryant Phillips retained the Smith County clerk’s office, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.

Unofficial statewide Senate results updated at 12:54 a.m. CST Wednesday reported 4,979,854 votes for Talarico, 4,103,742 for Paxton and 169,395 for Libertarian Ted Brown. Talarico’s advantage stood at 876,112 votes.

The Texas Tribune also reported Talarico’s victory, describing it as the first U.S. Senate win for a Texas Democrat since 1988. 

Democrats win major statewide offices 

Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who conceded Tuesday night. Democrat Vikki Goodwin won the lieutenant governor’s race against incumbent Dan Patrick, and Democrat Nathan Johnson defeated Republican Mayes Middleton for attorney general. 

Moran ahead in congressional count

In U.S. House District 1, Republican Nathaniel Moran received 167,062 votes to Democrat Yolanda R. Prince’s 75,353, according to the Texas secretary of state’s report 11:40 p.m. Tuesday. 

Phillips wins another term 

Phillips received 52,427 votes in the Smith County clerk’s race, compared with 9,443 for declared write-in candidate Terry Morrow, according to the county’s last election-night report, released at 10:52 p.m. Tuesday. 

The result keeps Phillips in the office responsible for maintaining county records, including records for the commissioners court, county court and county courts at law.

Several Smith County countywide candidates were unopposed and will take office:

All results are unofficial. Final results will follow canvassing, usually about two weeks after an election. 

This article was created with artificial intelligence using public meeting materials and edited by staff.