Talarico, Hinojosa, Goodwin and Johnson Win as Democrats Lead Every Texas Statewide Race

Texans woke up Wednesday to a political map that looks nothing like the one they went to bed with a week ago. The Associated Press has called the U.S. Senate race for Democratic state Rep. James Talarico over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the governor's race for Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa over Gov. Greg Abbott. Overnight, AP also called lieutenant governor for Democrat Vikki Goodwin, attorney general for Democrat Nathan Johnson and railroad commissioner for Democrat Jon Rosenthal. Democrats lead every other statewide race in the official count.

Here is where things stand, what has been called, and what has not.

Where the official count stands

As of 5:23 a.m. Central Wednesday, the Texas Secretary of State's official results showed 4,506 of 5,302 polling locations reporting (85%), with 253 of 254 counties reporting. All vote totals below come from that update. They are unofficial, and counties still have provisional and late mail ballots to process before the canvass. AP estimated about 94% of the expected vote had been counted in the top races.

U.S. Senate: Talarico defeats Paxton (AP call)

Talarico had 5,188,703 votes (55%) to 4,071,527 (43%) for Paxton, a lead of about 1.12 million. Libertarian Ted Brown had 178,401. Called for Talarico by the Associated Press at 10:03 p.m. Tuesday.

AP reported that the 37-year-old legislator and former middle school teacher is the first Texas Democrat to win statewide in more than 30 years. We covered both candidates' closing arguments before Election Day.

Governor: Hinojosa defeats Abbott (AP call)

Hinojosa had 4,987,406 votes (53%) to 4,332,020 (46%) for Abbott, a lead of about 655,000. Libertarian Pat Dixon had 138,055. Called for Hinojosa by the Associated Press at 10:17 p.m. Tuesday. Yahoo Finance reported that Abbott conceded late Tuesday, telling supporters, "mathematically we are not going to be able to win this election."

AP reported that Hinojosa, of Austin, is the first Democrat elected governor of Texas in more than 30 years and the state's first Latina governor. Abbott was seeking a fourth term.

Lieutenant governor: Goodwin defeats Patrick (AP call)

Goodwin had 4,850,024 votes (52%) to 4,293,289 (46%) for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a lead of about 557,000. Libertarian Anthony Cristo had 159,989 and Green Party candidate Kevin McCormick had 82,040. Called for Goodwin by the Associated Press at 2:00 a.m. Wednesday.

The Texas Tribune reported that Patrick conceded after midnight. "It was a fair election, and I accept the majority will of the voters," he said in a statement. Goodwin will be the first Democratic lieutenant governor in 27 years. For what is at stake in the Senate chamber Patrick has run since 2015, see where Patrick and Goodwin differ.

Attorney general: Johnson defeats Middleton (AP call)

Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas had 4,897,260 votes (52%) to 4,309,056 (46%) for Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton, a lead of about 588,000. Libertarian Tom Oxford had 155,038. Called for Johnson by the Associated Press at 1:57 a.m. Wednesday.

The Texas Tribune reported that Middleton called Johnson to concede, according to a spokesperson for Johnson's campaign. Johnson will be the first Democrat elected attorney general since 1994. Our earlier piece explained what Middleton, Johnson and Oxford promised.

Railroad commissioner: Rosenthal defeats French (AP call)

Democrat Jon Rosenthal had 4,834,860 votes (52%) to 4,212,106 (46%) for Republican Bo French. Libertarian Arthur DiBianca had 175,134. Called for Rosenthal by the Associated Press at 2:36 a.m. Wednesday.

The rest of the statewide ballot

Democrats lead each of these races in the 5:23 a.m. count. We have not confirmed AP calls for any of them, so all are uncalled here. In the comptroller's race, the Texas Tribune reported that Sarah Eckhardt declared victory over Comptroller Don Huffines.

• Comptroller: Sarah Eckhardt (D) 4,785,830; incumbent Don Huffines (R) 4,318,656; V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza (L) 171,464; Shehla Faizi (G) 58,574.

• Land commissioner: Benjamin Flores (D) 4,749,948; incumbent Dawn Buckingham (R) 4,363,123; Neill Snider (L) 144,727.

• Agriculture commissioner: Clayton Tucker (D) 4,729,845; Nate Sheets (R) 4,325,877; Austin R. Kelly (L) 185,677.

• Chief justice, Texas Supreme Court: Maggie Ellis (D) 4,832,257; incumbent Jimmy Blacklock (R) 4,406,759.

• Supreme Court, Place 2: Chari Kelly (D) 4,801,393; incumbent James P. Sullivan (R) 4,410,237.

• Supreme Court, Place 7: Kristen Hawkins (D) 4,841,381; incumbent Kyle Hawkins (R) 4,357,205.

• Supreme Court, Place 8: Gisela D. Triana (D) 4,768,284; incumbent Brett Busby (R) 4,423,243.

• Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3: Okey Anyiam (D) 4,587,060; Thomas Smith (R) 4,383,977; Mark Ash (L) 216,287.

• Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4: Audra Riley (D) 4,735,183; incumbent Kevin Patrick Yeary (R) 4,487,195.

• Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9: Holly Taylor (D) 4,778,726; John Messinger (R) 4,384,143.

Calls, concessions and counts are different things

An AP call is a news organization's judgment. A concession is a candidate's word. Neither is the official result. Texas results become official only after local canvasses and the state canvass, and close races can still go to a recount. Our guide explains how the canvass and recount deadlines work.

What it means

For conservatives who have counted on Texas for a generation, this is a hard morning, and there is no sense dressing it up. The honest work of asking why will take more than one news cycle, and it should start with candidates and conduct, not excuses. Patrick and Abbott set the right example by accepting the count plainly.

It is also worth saying plainly: the winners will govern all of us, and Scripture tells believers to pray for those in authority whether we voted for them or not. Holding them to their promises starts now. We will report the remaining calls as they come, and only when they come.