Honks, singing, cheers and chants filled the streets of Austin on Tuesday night as crowds celebrated midterm election results. Students and others paraded across campus and outside the Texas Capitol after Texans elected state Reps. Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico were elected governor and U.S. senator.
With Hinojosa’s and Talarico’s victories, Texas Democrats saw their first statewide wins in over 30 years.
“Seeing our votes actually go through and make a change is really amazing,” social work freshman Capri Wyatt said. “It just shows that this country is going in the right direction, and that we’re moving towards equality.”
At Gregory Gym, a crowd of around 150 people formed and then began marching to the Capitol, yelling chants such as “Texas Fight” and “Gina. Talarico. Texas is blue.”
When students reached the Capitol, they formed larger crowds outside the gates. Gatherers began playing music, waving flags and dancing with friends and family. In a show of support, passing drivers honked their horns and waved out their windows.
Hinojosa will be the first Hispanic governor in Texas, a state with a 40.9% Hispanic population. Capitol gatherers waved Mexican flags, danced to Spanish music and chanted “Gina.”
“It’s been honestly so great to see everyone come together,” public health junior Amilia Velez said. “Almost every single car that’s passed has been honking in support, and it was just great. I haven’t seen this much support at the Capitol for a while.”
Members of the UT spirit organization Longhorn Hellraisers took to Littlefield Fountain to celebrate, with government senior Grant Parris jumping into the fountain with other members. Parris said he has been following congressional elections.
“This has been a long time coming,” Parris said. “It’s just a beautiful ending to a great race.”
Cheering audiences celebrated throughout West Campus, with many gathering in and around Victory Lap to watch Talarico’s victory speech. Students across the city expressed excitement for the future of Texas and national politics.
“It’s a really emotional experience,” environmental science sophomore Analiese Bellows said. “I honestly didn’t think I would ever get to see this, and right now I genuinely feel like I’m dreaming, even though it’s been hours since the news has come out.”
Senior News Reporters Catherine MacLeod and Ashley Paredes; and General News Reporters Saiba Alam, Emilia Rosado, Riley Shosh, Tierney Withrow, and Emily Zeigfinger contributed to this report.
