Blue tsunami in Texas as key statewide races flip

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(The Center Square) – Texas voters overwhelmingly rejected Republicans in statewide races Tuesday in an historic blue tsunami, reversing Republican gains in the last election. 

Republicans are expected to lose the majority in the Texas House and Senate. Republicans are also expected to lose one-third of their congressional delegations.

Incumbent three-term Gov. Greg Abbott lost in his reelection bid. Outgoing Attorney General Ken Paxton lost in his U.S. Senate race. Neither had lost an election before in their political careers. They both lost by double digit margins, according to unofficial results. 

Down the ballot, Democrats flipped Republican seats in statewide races, according to unofficial results in races that have not yet been called but Democrats are leading by double digits. 

In the race for lieutenant governor, incumbent Dan Patrick is projected to lose to state Sen. Vikki Goodwin. With 60% of the votes in, she was ahead by nearly 13 points. 

The last time there was a Democratic  lieutenant governor was Bob Bullock, who served from 1991 to 1999.

In the race for attorney general, Democrat state Sen. Nathan Johson is leading Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton by 12 points. 

The last time Texas had a Democratic attorney general was Jim Mattox, who served from 1983 to 1991. 

Their Texas Senate colleague, state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt is leading businessman Don Huffines by 11 points in the race for state comptroller.

Similar margins and outcomes are being reported for other statewide races, including Democrats winning the race for Land Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner and Agriculture Commissioner, also by 12 points.

The last time a Democrat was on the Texas Railroad Commission was 32 years ago. The agency regulates the Texas oil and gas industry.

Polling for these races ahead of the election were within the margin of error, roughly one third less than the spread reported on election night.

Republicans appear to be poised to lose seven of nine seats on the State Board of Education. 

The board has 15 seats and currently holds a Republican majority but Democrats appear poised to take over.

Republicans also appear to be swept off all the highest appellate courts. 

With 54% of the votes counted, Democrats are leading in all four Texas Supreme Court, all three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and all three 15th Court of Appeals races. 

Republicans in the Texas House, Texas Senate and congressional delegation are also losing races. 

In the Texas Senate, Republicans are poised to lose seven seats, including longtime incumbents, and lose the majority. The last time Democrats held a majority in the state Senate was in 1993. 

In the Texas House, not all results are in.

Republicans are poised to lose nearly a dozen races in Congress, including in districts once considered conservative strongholds. 

With roughly 70% of the vote in, Republicans appear to be losing or have lost 11 seats, at least one third of the delegation, according to unofficial results. 

In Texas border districts, Democrats appear to have swept four congressional races, flipping two seats.