Full Breakdown
Texas Early Voting Sets Record Turnout Amid Tight Senate and Gubernatorial Races
By Drooid · · How we work
Record Early-Voting Turnout in Major Counties
Early voting began on October 19. Harris County reported more than 70,000 voters by day’s end and later posted 104,201 ballots cast by 6 p.m., a new midterm high. Dallas County announced 76,069 voters on day one, topping its 2020 record. El Paso County recorded 22,412 first-day votes, the second-highest for a midterm.
Poll Landscape and Race Tightness
The Senate contest between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic State Representative James Talarico remains within the margin of error in multiple surveys. A University of Houston Hobby School poll (2,000 likely voters, Oct 10-14) showed Talarico at 48 % to Paxton’s 46 %. A CBS News/YouGov poll (1,458 likely voters, Oct 8-16) placed Talarico at 51 % versus Paxton’s 49 %. An InsiderAdvantage poll (1,200 likely voters, Oct 13-14) gave Paxton a narrow lead of 49 % to Talarico’s 48 %.
In the governor’s race, Republican incumbent Greg Abbott leads Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa in most recent surveys. A ReconMR/Siena poll (617 likely voters, Oct 5-8) showed Abbott ahead 48 % to 47 %. A University of Texas/YouGov poll (861 likely voters, Sep 25-Oct 5) had Hinojosa at 49 % and Abbott at 48 %. The RealClearPolitics average places Abbott ahead by roughly three points.
Background: Texas’s Partisan History and 2026 Stakes
Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in 32 years. Republicans hold a 218-214 edge in the U.S. House and a 53-47 Senate majority. The 2026 midterms are closely watched as Democrats seek to break that streak, while Republicans aim to preserve their hold on the governor’s mansion and the Senate seat.
Official Statements & Responses
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned that “rural America” must turn out in large numbers to offset Democratic gains in urban districts.
- County Clerk Dyana Limón-Mercado (Travis County) reported strong early-voting lines, saying, “We love to see the line outside this morning.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Voters in Travis County described wait times ranging from 30 minutes to two hours, noting that “the line outside” resembled presidential-election crowds.
Data & Statistics
- Harris County registered voters: 2,702,952 (2024) vs. 2,357,199 (2018).
- Dallas County registered voters: 1,463,708 (2024) vs. 1,398,469 (2020).
- Early-voting locations: 75 in Harris; 47 in Dallas; 45 in Travis.
- Statewide registered voters: >19 million, a new record.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Harris County’s first-day count is reported as 70,000+ and 104,201.
- Dallas County’s day-one total appears as 76,069 and 76,079.
- No statewide verification of these figures has been released, leaving exact turnout levels uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Get your family, get your friends. This is what I say on radio. This is what I believe in. Well, we're going to lose a country because they're going to outvote us,” — Mark Levin
- “We have never been so close,” — Gina Hinojosa
- “I will be spending time and resources and campaigning like this in Harris County and in Texas to make sure we do as well as possible,” — Greg Abbott
What’s Next
Early voting will continue through October 30. The statewide election is scheduled for November 3, when voters will decide the U.S. Senate seat, the governor’s office, and numerous down-ballot contests. Election officials urge voters to verify registration status and review sample ballots ahead of the final voting day.