Election Night in Texas: A Dispatch from the Midterms’ Biggest Sweep
“So this a big election for you in Italy?” I asked her. “Oh my god!” she cried, admonishing me. “That is an understatement!”
Overcast skies and a light drizzle greeted me as I ventured to a theological seminary in Austin to cast my vote. James Talarico, a 37-year-old state legislator and Presbyterian seminarian, was vying for the U.S. Senate seat. He had labeled the relationship between governors and governed as a "covenant," a broken one he aimed to mend by shaking up the political system. Talarico promised to "start flipping tables" and hoped to lead the Democrats to their first statewide victory in 32 years, reversing a long-standing trend.
At a polling place adjacent to Austin's main commercial district, candidates for city council engaged in a lively competition. With flyers in hand, they moved through a crowd of voters and indifferent college students, navigating the obstacles in their path. As I nervously wondered if I had already voted, a candidate approached me and declared, "I just voted for you," earning a fist bump in return.
Rich Heyman, the council hopeful, had been fired by the University of Texas in 2024 after being arrested at a pro-Palestine protest. Despite his past, he exuded confidence that day.
The Senate race saw Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, locked in a contentious battle. Despite scandals ranging from securities fraud to multiple extramarital affairs, Paxton remained a resilient figure in politics. He had garnered significant financial support, with at least $212 million donated to his campaign. Among his supporters was Elon Musk, who contributed to the most expensive non-presidential election in U.S. history.
In East Austin, a potential hotspot for ICE activity, I observed an election day that seemed free of such presence. Greg Abbott, the governor, had ushered in a period of extreme political conservativeism, implementing policies like Operation Lone Star to control the border and increase migrant apprehensions. However, reports emerged of ICE's absence at polling places and a tragic incident involving a delivery driver shot by ICE personnel.
Despite the challenges, the election carried on, with candidates vying for power and voters exercising their right to choose.
Written by urgent.news from The Paris Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
