Texas Republicans gain only one seat as Democrats take statewide lead

Jace Yarbrough won the redrawn 32nd congressional district in Texas on Tuesday. He defeated Democrat Dan Barrios with 51.5 percent of the vote. This was the only congressional seat in the state that Republicans managed to flip during the midterm elections.

The victory occurred against a backdrop of Democratic success in other areas. Democrats won statewide offices for the first time in 32 years. They also held onto four districts that Republicans had targeted for capture.

The district boundaries changed significantly in August 2025. The Texas legislature approved a new map after President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to redraw lines. The new district includes less of left-leaning Dallas and extends east into more Republican counties. Latino, Black, and Asian communities made up about 60 percent of the population in 2024. The new lines reduced that share.

Matthew Wilson, a professor at Southern Methodist University, noted that Yarbrough changed his campaign focus. The constitutional lawyer moved from social issues in the primary to economic concerns in the general election. Wilson said this shift helped connect with centrist voters. However, he also argued that the district’s overall Republican lean played a major role.

Republicans aimed to gain five seats in this election cycle. They will instead enter the new congressional term in January with 24 representatives. This is a net loss of one seat. Democrats will hold 14 seats and control both chambers of Congress.

Experts suggest the Republican strategy underestimated Latino voters. These voters make up 40 percent of Texas’s population. Many swung toward Democrats due to affordability concerns and immigration policies. Michael Adams, a professor at Texas Southern University, said a perceived threat to a community can boost turnout.

Democrats also won in other targeted areas. Leticia Gutierrez defeated Alex Mealer in Houston’s ninth district with nearly 58 percent of the vote. Johnny Garcia won by more than 10 points in a San Antonio suburb. Henry Cuellar won nearly 66 percent in his border district. Vicente Gonzalez defeated Eric Flores by more than 15 points in the 34th district. Bobby Pulido, a Tejano musician, unseated Republican Monica De La Cruz in another border area.