Texas Early Voting Turnout Tracked for 2026 Midterms

Search by county and party to see daily updates on voter enthusiasm ahead of high-stakes elections.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 12:00pm

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The Houston Chronicle is closely tracking early voting turnout for the 2026 Texas primary elections, which will set the stage for November's high-stakes midterm contests. The data, provided daily by the Secretary of State's office, offers insights into voter enthusiasm across the state's 18.7 million registered voters as they head to the polls.

Why it matters

Texas is a key battleground state, with several high-profile races on the ballot that could help determine control of the U.S. Senate and Congress. The early voting turnout data provides an early glimpse into which voters are most engaged and motivated ahead of the general election.

The details

The primary election, taking place on March 3, features closely contested races for U.S. Senate, redrawn congressional districts, and several statewide offices without incumbents. Both the Republican and Democratic parties have competitive primaries, with the Senate race between incumbent John Cornyn and challengers Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt drawing national attention.

  • Early voting began on February 17 and runs through February 27.
  • The primary election day is March 3.

The players

John Cornyn

U.S. Senator from Texas since 2002, facing primary challenges.

Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General challenging Cornyn for the Republican Senate nomination.

Wesley Hunt

U.S. Representative challenging Cornyn for the Republican Senate nomination.

James Talarico

State Representative competing for the Democratic Senate nomination.

Jasmine Crockett

U.S. Representative competing for the Democratic Senate nomination.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This early voting data provides a valuable window into voter enthusiasm and engagement ahead of the high-stakes 2026 Texas midterm elections, which could have significant implications for control of Congress and the direction of the state.