Texas Early Vote Hits 6.3 Million, Fueling National Midterm Surge

Voters in Texas cast more than 6.3 million ballots in the first week of the two-week early voting period that ended on Friday. This total stands 50% higher than the 4.2 million recorded at the same point in the 2022 midterm election. The sharp increase places Texas at the center of a nationwide trend where early participation is running well ahead of previous cycles.

The Associated Press data compiled five days before Election Day shows that more than 43 million Americans have voted early or returned mail ballots across 47 states and Washington, D.C. This figure is nearly 10 million higher than the total from the same point in 2022. The data includes 48 states and the nation’s capital in the comparison, though one state did not provide data this cycle.

In states where party affiliation is tracked, approximately 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans have cast advance ballots. These numbers do not account for all early voters nationwide or identify the specific candidates who received the votes. The data provides a snapshot of participation as the election nears its conclusion.

The surge in Texas is visible in Harris County, which includes Houston. By Wednesday, 862,700 people had voted in the county, up from 564,500 in 2022. Harris County has voted for Democratic candidates in recent years, with Vice President Kamala Harris defeating President Donald Trump by nearly 6 percentage points in 2024. Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred carried the county by roughly 11 percentage points against Republican Senator Ted Cruz that same year.

This year, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton challenges Democrat James Talarico for the open Senate seat. Republican Governor Greg Abbott seeks reelection against Democrat Gina Hinojosa. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on the Senate race as Republicans work to hold the state, where Democrats have not won a statewide election in more than three decades. President Trump visited Texas earlier this week, his third trip to the state in a month.

Other Senate battlegrounds are also seeing record early turnout. South Carolina, where voters select a successor to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, reports an 83% increase in early voting compared to 2022. Trump won the state by nearly 18 percentage points in 2024. The state also has open races for governor and U.S. Senate.

Kansas records a 34% increase, with roughly 83,000 more ballots cast than four years ago. Republican Senator Roger Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton in that race. Maine sees a 44% increase as Republican Senator Susan Collins runs against Democrat Troy Jackson. Michigan, where early in-person voting is available statewide for the first time, has recorded roughly 409,000 more early votes than in 2022, a 32% increase.

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. The midterm election will determine whether they retain that control. Democrats are seeking to win seats in states that have historically favored Republican candidates. The expanded list of competitive races has driven increased spending and voter activity across the map.