Democrat James Talarico, 37, of Austin, is running neck-and-neck with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in what is described as the most expensive U.S. Senate race in the country. Talarico has held a narrow but steady lead in polling.
Some signs in early voting show lower-than-expected Republican turnout. Control of the U.S. Senate could depend on the outcome in Texas, which has not elected a Democrat statewide in several decades.
Democrats point to a Republican president whose approval has fallen amid an unpopular war and high gas prices. Talarico has raised more money than any other Senate candidate in the country, according to the report. His opponent's party has spent nearly $100 million calling Paxton unfit for office.
Some Republicans had pushed back on Paxton's nomination, saying he was a liability. A Talarico win could affect national politics as soon as the 2028 presidential race, while a loss could weaken Democratic hopes in Texas for years.