Voter turnout along the U.S.-Mexico border rose in 2026, according to a Texas Tribune analysis. Border counties, stretching from El Paso to Cameron, saw an 8% increase in overall turnout compared with 2022, the largest increase of any region in the state. The analysis said those voters largely supported Democratic candidates.
The border counties backed President Donald Trump in 2024. The analysis said Republicans had redrawn South Texas districts to flip Democratic seats, but Republicans lost two seats, including Congressional Districts 15 and 23.
State Rep. James Talarico, who led the Democratic ticket, won nine of the counties Trump carried along the border in 2024. According to unofficial Associated Press results, Talarico won the border counties by nearly 45 points. Beto O'Rourke led there by more than 40 points in 2018.