A record 7.4 million Texans voted early in the 2026 midterm election, according to preliminary records from the secretary of state's office. The figure puts turnout at about 40 percent, which matches the modern midterm high set in 2018. In-person early voting ended Friday.
Rice University political science professor Mark Jones said, "We're not going to hit presidential levels, but this is definitely high turnout." He said it is still unclear how many votes remain to be counted. More than 19 million Texans are registered to vote, up 2.2 percent from the November 2024 presidential election.
The turnout data posted Saturday is not final and may be incomplete, the report said. Counties report turnout on their own schedules, and mail-in ballots are still expected to arrive. The U.S. Senate race features state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, and Attorney General Ken Paxton, R-McKinney. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, is challenging Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term.