The race determining the balance of power on Texas' education board could go to a recount as fewer than 600 votes separate candidates.

Republicans’ unrestrained dominance over what Texas students learn in the classroom may likely end next year as five new Democrats appear to have won State Board of Education seats.

Democrat Dana Van de Walker leads Republican incumbent Audrey Young by fewer than 600 votes, with only 1% of the vote in the District 8 race unaccounted for, according to unofficial returns. If that holds, Texas Democrats would secure their first majority on the board since 1994.

No matter what happens in the final contest, GOP power on the board will not look like the majority that recently authored an Islamophobic rewrite of social studies lessons, greenlit mandatory Bible readings for all public school students and approved classroom instruction downplaying the horrors of American slavery.

Even if Republicans hold onto the majority — which is still far short of the current 11-4 makeup — Democrats gain significant say in decisions moving forward. In that scenario, eight Republicans would need to band together on every vote. That seems unlikely given that board member Pam Little, a Fairview Republican, is known to deviate from her colleagues when she disagrees with them.