In Other News · United States

Source: Axios

Texas woke up red on Tuesday and went to bed blue. Why it matters: Just months ago, Democratic campaigns in the MAGA heartland appeared quixotic — obligatory more than realistic.Now those Democratic candidates have swept to power, led by two state representatives from liberal Austin — James Talarico, soon to be seated in the U.S. Senate, and Gina Hinojosa, who will take her place in the new year in the governor's mansion.Zoom in: The Democratic victories were comprehensive. State Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) unseated three-term Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, per the Associated Press. Democrat Nathan Johnson, a state senator from Dallas, defeated Republican Mayes Middleton, state senator from Galveston, in the race for attorney general.What they're saying: "We shocked the world tonight. With a Texas chip on our shoulder, we showed the world that anything is possible tonight," Hinojosa said."We just took back Texas," Talarico told his supporters.What happened: An unpopular president and high gas and grocery prices deep-sixed red-state GOP candidates across the country.But the Texas GOP was further hampered by an unpopular U.S. Senate candidate (even members of his own party impeached him) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.And Greg Abbott, who had served as governor since...