More Than 7.7 Million Texans Vote Early, Breaking the 2018 Midterm Record With 40.5% Turnout
Across Texas, preliminary figures from the secretary of state's office show more than 7.7 million Texans voted early in the 2026 midterm election, a turnout of 40.5% that surpasses the modern midterm high-water mark set in 2018. More than 19 million Texans are registered to vote, up 2.2% from the November 2024 presidential election.
In-person early voting ended on October 30, while mail ballots continue to arrive; the secretary of state's figures are not final and counties report at different speeds. In the 2024 presidential election about 9 million Texans voted early, a 49% turnout rate; in the 2022 midterms about 5.5 million voted early, a 31% rate.
In the marquee races, Democratic state Representative James Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton are locked in a tight contest for a U.S. Senate seat, and Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa is challenging Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
(Source: The Texas Tribune)
Source: The Texas Tribune
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于奥斯汀的德克萨斯州议会大厦。CupWithSoda19 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Texas State Capitol in Austin. By CupWithSoda19, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
