Texas politics just crossed a line nobody has crossed in over three decades. James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race, becoming the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since 1994. The race drew national attention because Senate majority control was in play, and money poured in from both directions, including tens of millions from President Trump’s super PAC along with rallies across the state before Election Day on Nov. 3.

For context, Beto O’Rourke came within 2.6 percentage points of beating Ted Cruz in 2018, the closest recent miss. This time the margin went the other way, and the result is being read as a potential realignment in a state long treated as safely Republican.

Here in Ellis County, the practical questions matter most. Senate control affects agriculture policy, transportation funding, and plenty of federal programs that touch Waxahachie and the surrounding towns. Results and reactions are still developing, and we’ll keep covering the local angle. What’s the biggest issue you want the new senator to tackle first? Let us know on our social pages.