Adam Hinojosa flips Texas Senate seat, becomes first Republican to represent Rio Grande Valley district since Reconstruction [Video]

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Adam Hinojosa has defeated state Sen. Morgan LaMantia in South Texas, tightening Republicans’ hold on the Texas Senate by winning a Senate district in the Rio Grande Valley for the first time since Reconstruction.

Hinojosa’s win in Senate District 27 flips the only competitive seat in the Texas Senate this cycle, besting LaMantia two years after he came within 659 votes of defeating the Palm Valley Democrat in their first bout.

Hinojosa declared victory just before midnight, fleshing out a night of Republican gains — and holds — in South Texas.

“The election results in our district are nothing short of historic,” Hinojosa said in a statement. “Our campaign has changed the balance of power in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.”

LaMantia thanked her supporters in a statement Wednesday afternoon, shortly before The …