Democrat Denise Wooten defeated Republican state Rep. Ben Bumgarner in Texas House District 63 on Nov. 3, flipping the Flower Mound-area seat.

Wooten received 37,292 votes, or 51.06%, to Bumgarner’s 35,738, or 48.94%—a margin of 1,554 votes—according to unofficial results reported by the Cross Timbers Gazette.

Bumgarner, who began serving in the House in 2023, acknowledged the result on social media and thanked the community for the opportunity to serve, the Gazette reported.

Denton County turnout rises

Denton County voters cast 398,496 ballots, the highest midterm total since at least 2018 and approximately 25.1% more than the roughly 318,600 cast in 2022, the Denton Record-Chronicle reported.

Turnout reached approximately 57.3% of the county’s 695,512 registered voters. By comparison, the 2024 presidential election drew about 452,600 ballots and 68.4% turnout.

Elections Administrator Frank Phillips told the Record-Chronicle that heightened political interest and population growth contributed to participation. The county added approximately 86,900 registered voters over four years, the newspaper reported.

Mixed results across the county

Republican state Reps. Richard Hayes, Andy Hopper and Mitch Little retained their seats. U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill also won reelection, receiving 53.27% of the vote within Denton County. That percentage represents his county showing, rather than his districtwide result.

County Judge Andy Eads defeated Democrat Nick Pappas by 5,843 votes.

Democrats performed more strongly in several statewide contests within the county. James Talarico received 53.32% in the U.S. Senate race, while Gina Hinojosa received 50.29% in the governor’s race. Democrats also led Denton County’s vote totals for lieutenant governor, attorney general and railroad commissioner, according to the Gazette.

Wooten was not the only Democrat to defeat a local Republican incumbent. Candace Valenzuela won the Precinct 2 commissioner race with 52.58%, defeating Kevin Falconer, who received 47.42%.

The election results remain unofficial pending certification.