Baylor students reacted with surprise and cautious optimism Wednesday after Democratic candidates James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa won Texas’ Senate and gubernatorial races, respectively, marking a major shift in the state’s political landscape.
Browsing: 2026 Midterm Election
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Greg Abbott on Tuesday to become Texas’s first Democratic governor since 1995. Hinojosa’s upset victory cut short Abbott’s chances of becoming the longest-serving Texas governor.
Democrat James Talarico added to the “blue wave” by defeating Republican Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democratic Texas senator in 30 years.
Apart from a slight margin in the Senate race, election results from McLennan County show a largely Republican voting pattern. Despite this, Democrats in the Waco community gathered Tuesday night for a watch party to follow the midterm elections.
As Texas voters decide a closely watched U.S. Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico, Baylor students used an on-campus polling location to make their voices heard.
A native Wacoan, businessman and Urban Air franchisee, Curry was elected to his second term since assuming office in 2024, campaigning on local issues such as water quality, Central Texas’ power grid, accessibility of mental health resources and what factors into a Texas education.
With 89% of Texas’ 17th District reporting, Sessions had about 54% of the vote compared to Shepard’s 46%. In McLennan County, which makes up the district alongside Temple, the Austin suburb of Round Rock and a sizable portion of rural land to the east and north, Sessions won 59% of the vote.
As political disagreements continue to shape conversations across the country, Baylor’s Department of Intercultural Engagement is creating opportunities for students to discuss differing viewpoints through its Dinner and Discourse events.
Political debates have long given candidates an opportunity to present their positions and distinguish themselves from their opponents. But as more candidates decline invitations to debate, the traditional campaign forum may be becoming less common.
Early voting has peaked in the first few days. With almost 21% of Texas voters already at the polls, Texans are motivated to have their voices heard.
Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee in the Texas gubernatorial race, took the stage at The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill in Waco on Tuesday to rally hundreds of supporters ahead of Election Day.
On Thursday, Governor Greg Abbott made a stop in Temple at Clem Mikeska’s Bar-B-Q to rally voters and encourage midterm turnout as early voting opens across Texas.
President Donald Trump’s rally supporting Attorney General Ken Paxton in Waco, scheduled for Tuesday, has been moved to Corpus Christi, according to an email from the Republican National Committee.
Ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Texas Republicans and Democrats alike have had to navigate through October surprises of their own, ranging from sensational cheap shots to shifting policy positions.
Election Day is just around the corner, and Baylor students registered to vote in McLennan County can head to the polls to choose a U.S. representative in Texas’ 17th Congressional District: Pete Sessions and Casey Shepard.
In an age of constant content flowing straight to pockets, misinformation is inevitable. Between rumors of mental instability and artificial intelligence deepfakes, voters must be cautious about what they believe ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
For some Baylor students, the midterm election comes down to rent and grocery costs. For others, it is a question of human dignity, the integrity of elected officials or the role religion should play in government. The issues overlap, but students do not always agree on which deserve the most attention. Baylor students revealed different priorities shaping how they approach the ballot, from immigration policy and economic security to political corruption and religious values.
“What makes a difference is neighbors showing up at their neighbors’ doorstep and telling them why this election is so important,” Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico said.
While the campaigns in Texas have been focused fundamentally on the affordability crisis, the Texas Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico remains highly contested due to the engagement of identity politics from both candidates.
James Talarico’s black-and-white shirts and President Donald Trump’s red-and-white hats may be a common sight along the campaign trail, but it is not common to see students wearing or using political merchandise on campus.
Every election, presidential candidates will choose songs that define their campaign. However, there have been obvious standouts. These five songs transcend the rest with their American pride, uplifting nature and overall vibes.
President Donald Trump will stop in Waco next Tuesday, Oct. 27, to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, Fox News reported Monday afternoon.
Classical concert pianist, minister, author, and mother Jade Simmons is taking an unconventional route to the U.S. Senate, running as an independent write-in candidate in Texas’ Nov. 3 election. During an event Monday at Baylor, Simmons broke down what running independently means for her and the challenges of campaigning without a party affiliation.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke Saturday morning at The Palladium in Waco ahead of the Senate election Nov. 3.
Beyond the races for U.S. Senate and governor, Texas voters will decide who fills several statewide offices this November — positions that oversee everything from the state’s finances to its oil and gas industry.
It seems as though each year the importance of election season grows, with 2026 being no exception. With the ever-growing political tension and scrutiny between parties, the responsibility to build bridges falls on us — those with the power to vote. If you’re struggling with where to begin, here are five questions to help get you on the right path.
This November, some new and some familiar names will fill the Texas Ballot. These elections could make major waves in Texas politics. Here’s a brief overview of the major candidates, the positions they’re running for and the job descriptions of those positions.
“The billionaires who are buying the system don’t care who you are,” Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico said. “They don’t care about your politics; they only care about their profits. They don’t see us as Democrats or Republicans; they don’t see red or blue; they only see green. They see us as one group of people. One group of people they can rip off.”
Students attending the event, whether in protest or to support Talarico’s campaign, held conflicting views over whether Talarico and his opponent Ken Paxton’s Christian values will be the deciding factor in the ballot box.
Red “Make America Affordable Again” campaign signs waved throughout a packed Mark & Paula Hurd Grand Ballroom Wednesday night as Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico took the stage at Baylor. According to the Talarico campaign, 1,100 people RSVP’d for the event.