Democrats have fresh hope to win back Senate – could they really pull it off?

North Carolina, Ohio, Maine and Alaska are key targets for a party bullish after a bruising Republican primary in Texas

After Texas Republicans chose the beleaguered attorney general, Ken Paxton, as their party's nominee for US Senate on Tuesday, Democrats are feeling bullish that they could pull off a victory in the red-leaning state - and maybe win back the Senate in this year's midterm elections.

Paxton - whose history includes an impeachment, fraud charges and an alleged affair - beat incumbent John Cornyn after receiving Trump's blessing in the most expensive primary this year. In November he will face James Talarico, a young state lawmaker and pastor, who won the Democratic primary amid a rising national profile.