Texas voters turned out in historic numbers Tuesday, delivering victories for State Rep. James Talarico and forcing a runoff between Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the state’s U.S. Senate contest that claimed national attention. The total early-voting turnout of more than 2.5 million marks the highest ever for a midterm primary election. The results also kicked off the 2026 midterm cycle.
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Early voting turnout for the 2026 Texas primary elections has surged to levels never before seen in a midterm cycle, with statewide total turnout on pace to more than double the figures recorded during the 2022 primaries.
The 2026 midterms — widely seen as the first referendum on the Trump administration — kicked off Tuesday as Texas opened early voting for its March 3 primary, the first contest in what is projected to be the most expensive midterm cycle in American history.
In the already unprecedented 2024 election, early voting numbers are yet another factor causing chaos as the race comes to a head. With far fewer overall early voters but far more in-person early votes, the 2024 election continues to surprise voters.
The last day to vote early in Republican and Democratic primaries for the Texas state and national congressional elections is Friday. The official primary election will be Tuesday.
