HOUSTON, Texas — Voters in Houston and the rest of Harris County turned out in force before Election Day even arrived. More than 1.08 million people cast ballots in the county during early voting, according to unofficial figures from county election officials, and the rest get their chance Tuesday.
That early total beats what the county saw in both the 2018 and 2022 midterms. Four years ago, 750,349 Harris County residents voted early. This year’s number includes more than a million people who voted in person and close to 45,000 mail ballots, and it comes from a county with more than 2.7 million registered voters.
The surge started fast. The 12-day early voting period opened with a first-day turnout record for a midterm in Harris County, and lines formed before some polling places opened, including on West Gray.
Teneshia Hudspeth, the county clerk, said she thinks the national climate, the candidates and the issues they are pushing are all driving voters to the polls. Early totals, though, say nothing about who those voters picked.
Two statewide contests top the ballot. In the race for governor, the Democratic challenger is state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, running against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who wants a fourth term. In the Senate race, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is up against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for a U.S. Senate seat that could help decide which party controls the chamber. Federal, state and local races fill out the rest of the ballot.
On Election Day, more than 600 voting locations across the Houston area are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Section: More Houston TX politics news
Filed under: Houston TX Politics News
