James Talarico has been projected to defeat Republican incumbent Ken Paxton in the Texas U.S. Senate race, marking the first time a Democrat will hold the seat since 1988. Election data firm Decision Desk HQ called the race on Nov. 3 evening. Texas, a traditional Republican stronghold that backed Trump in the past three presidential elections, represents a significant political shift. The outcome ends nearly four decades of Republican control over one of the state's two Senate seats.