Republican Jace Yarbrough won Texas's 32nd congressional district, becoming the only Republican this midterm cycle to flip a Texas House seat despite a broader Democratic surge in the state.
The district was redrawn in August 2025 by the Texas state legislature at Trump's urging to favor Republicans. The new map removed most of Dallas proper and extended east to include several Republican-dominated counties. The share of Latino, Black and Asian voters fell from about 60 percent to a lower proportion, while predominantly white areas were added.
Matthew Wilson, a Southern Methodist University professor in the district, attributed Yarbrough's victory to two factors. Yarbrough, a constitutional lawyer who had litigated against progressive policies, shifted his messaging from social issues in the primary to economic concerns in the general election, focusing on lowering prices. The heavily Republican-leaning redistricting also aided him. Still, Yarbrough won narrowly with 51.5 percent to Democrat Dan Barrios's 48.5 percent.
"Even in his case, the race was a lot closer than he would have expected," Wilson said.
Republicans had hoped the redistricting would net five additional House seats in Texas, but four Democratic-held districts the GOP targeted remained Democratic. Michael Adams, a Texas Southern University professor, cited "group threat theory," noting that Latino voters, comprising 40 percent of Texas's population, swung back toward Democrats this cycle over immigration concerns and affordability issues. Democrats won decisively in the 9th district (Houston), the 28th district (San Antonio suburbs), and border districts 34 and 35.
Texas will send 24 Republicans and 14 Democrats to the House next term, with Republicans losing one seat overall.