Brandon Gill Surges Ahead, Outshining State Republicans in Key District Win
Hunter Fielding0 Comments
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) successfully secured his reelection in Texas’ 26th Congressional District during the midterm elections. What’s striking is that he outpaced several statewide Republican candidates on a night marked by notable Democratic gains across Texas and the nation.
Gill garnered 54.5 percent of the vote, totaling approximately 182,648 ballots, while Democratic challenger Steven Shook received 44.2 percent. Libertarian candidate Phil Gray trailed with about 1.3 percent. This margin of around 10 points signifies a decisive victory in a district that includes parts of Denton, Cooke, and Wise counties.
His performance significantly exceeded that of other Republicans both across Texas and within his own district. In Denton County, the heart of the 26th District, Gill secured about 51.2 percent of the vote, winning by approximately 3.6 percentage points. In contrast, Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton managed only 44.89 percent in the same county, falling significantly behind Democrat James Talarico.
Additionally, Republican Governor Greg Abbott managed only 48.22 percent in Denton County, falling just short of Democrat Gina Hinojosa. These figures suggest that Gill not only maintained strong local support but also beat the top Republican candidates statewide.
Looking at the broader landscape, Republican candidates faced significant challenges. Democrat Gina Hinojosa claimed the governor’s seat with approximately 52.8 percent of the vote against three-term Gov. Greg Abbott, who received 45.7 percent, while Democrat Vikki Goodwin successfully ousted Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick with around 52 percent of the vote.
These surprising results marked the end of a long-standing Republican dominance in Texas, where the last Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate was in 1988, and the last Democratic governor left office in the mid-1990s.
First elected in 2024 after Michael Burgess’ retirement, Gill will serve a second term in the House. Traditionally, the 26th District has favored Republicans, evidenced by recent presidential contests showing significant margins for GOP nominees.
While Gill’s 2026 winning margin was narrower than in his first election, it remains robust amid an overall shift toward Democratic candidates in Texas.
IT'S OFFICIAL: Rep. BRANDON GILL (R-TX) reelected to Congress
