Democrats Win the Texas House for the First Time in More Than Two Decades

Democrats have won control of the Texas House of Representatives for the first time since Republicans took over the chamber in 2003, according to the Associated Press and the Texas Tribune, extending a night of historic losses for the GOP in the nation’s largest Republican-led state.

How the majority came together

Democrats began Election Day holding 62 of the chamber’s 150 seats and needed to gain 14 to take control. By Wednesday afternoon, the AP had called 11 Republican-held districts for Democrats, and GOP incumbents had conceded three more, the Texas Tribune reported. Democrats were also ahead in at least seven other Republican districts. If those leads hold, the party would start the next session in January with 83 seats to 67 for Republicans.

The losses reached across the state. Republican incumbents were defeated in South Texas, San Antonio and the Dallas area, and Democrats picked up seats in Harris and Tarrant counties. Some Republicans held on, including incumbents in San Antonio, Houston and University Park.

A divided state government

The result breaks the Republican hold on all three centers of power in Austin. Democrat Gina Hinojosa won the governor’s race, and Democrat Vikki Goodwin defeated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, which would make her the presiding officer of the state Senate. Republicans kept their majority in that chamber, which appeared to remain at 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats, and they were expected to consider new rules that could limit the lieutenant governor’s power.

Race for speaker begins

The contest to lead the House started almost immediately. Rep. Senfronia Thompson of Houston, who has served since 1973 and is the longest-serving woman and Black lawmaker in Texas history, announced a bid for speaker on election night with support from at least 11 Democrats, according to the Tribune. Speaker Pro Tempore Joe Moody of El Paso was also mentioned as a possible contender.

House Democratic leaders said their early goals would include expanding Medicaid and repealing the state’s school voucher program, the Tribune reported. Lawmakers can begin filing bills for the coming session as early as next week.

Why it matters

Texas has been the anchor of Republican strength in the South for a generation. The outcome means bills will need support from both parties to reach the new governor, and it gives Democrats a stronger voice in budget and policy fights over the next two years. Some races remain close and could still shift as provisional and mail ballots are counted or recounts are requested.

How we reported this

This report draws on reporting from the Associated Press and other major news organizations, named in the text. Figures from early or partial counts are identified as such and may change. BURN VOC will update this story as new information is released.