The results of this U.S. midterm election are amazing! Haha.

Texas is a Republican state, so I thought the governor would ultimately be from the Republican Party...

In the midterm elections held on November 3, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated the incumbent governor Greg Abbott.

At the point when the counting was nearly finished, Hinojosa received about 53%, while Abbott got 46%.

This is the first time a Democrat has been elected governor in Texas since 1990.

It is also surprising that Abbott, who served as governor for 12 years, lost.

However, what is even more interesting for residents of San Antonio is that our local politics have changed significantly due to this election.

In the San Antonio mayoral election in June 2025, Gina Ortiz Jones was already elected.

In this midterm election, Ron Nirenberg was elected as the Bexar County Judge.

In the U.S., when you hear "County Judge," you might think of a judge presiding over a courtroom, but in Texas, this position is more like the head of county administration.

Nirenberg won with about 67%, defeating the Republican candidate by a large margin.

As a result, San Antonio City Hall will have Gina Ortiz Jones, and the county administration will be led by former mayor Nirenberg.

With the governor now a Democrat, the political atmosphere has definitely changed.

Another surprising result from this election is that Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton.

This is the first time a Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 1988.

In Bexar County, both Hinojosa and Talarico received over 64% support.

While it was known that San Antonio leans Democratic, this time, changes are evident not just locally but across Texas.

Personally, I believe that what matters more than which party a politician belongs to is how people's lives will change.

First, there's property tax. If you own a home in Texas, the annual property tax can be quite a burden.

Just because a Democrat was elected governor doesn't mean property taxes will automatically decrease.

Property taxes are influenced by local government and school district budgets, as well as state tax policies.

However, depending on how the new state government adjusts school funding and tax relief policies, there is a possibility for change in the future.

The second issue is public schools. Hinojosa emphasized support for public education as a key campaign promise.

Texas has had many debates over school budgets and teacher treatment, and if the new government increases related budgets, it could impact schools in the San Antonio area.

The third issue is health insurance and medical services. San Antonio has many military families, retirees, and residents in need of medical services.

If the state's healthcare support policies change, it could affect low-income individuals and those using medical services. However, the health insurance system won't change overnight.

Personally, what I'm most curious about are the costs of living, such as electricity bills, property taxes, car insurance, and medical expenses.

No matter which party wins the election, if these costs continue to rise, the changes residents feel will be minimal.

Especially in recent years, San Antonio has seen a significant increase in housing prices and living costs, making it feel less like an affordable city than before.

This election has significantly changed the political direction.

However, the new governor's term will start in January 2027. It will take time for actual policies to be created and reflected in the budget.

I want to see how much residents' lives improve as a result of the Democrats winning, rather than just the fact that they won.

Politicians celebrate their victories after the election, but residents still have to worry about their electricity bills and property taxes next month.