Early voting in the Texas Democratic primary election has experienced a notable upswing, surpassing participation numbers from both the last midterm election and the recent presidential primary. As of Sunday, data from the Texas Secretary of State reveals that approximately 483,000 Democrats have cast early ballots either in person or by mail, representing a significant increase of over 211,000 compared to the same period in the 2022 primary.
In contrast, early turnout for Republicans is around 446,000 ballots. While this figure is about 6,000 more than at this point in 2022, it falls short of the more than 522,000 Republican votes cast at this stage during the 2024 presidential primary.
Political science professor Matthew Wilson from Southern Methodist University suggested that the surge in Democratic participation could be indicative of heightened enthusiasm within the party this year. He pointed to increasing discontent with the Trump administration’s policies and a high-stakes U.S. Senate Democratic primary contest between U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and Texas Rep. James Talarico of Austin as key factors driving voter engagement.
“This year, Democrats have a greater sense of opportunity in statewide races, along with intriguing primaries—in stark contrast to previous years where their chances seemed less promising,” Wilson remarked.
As it stands, nearly 5% of Texas’s 18,657,918 registered voters have participated in early voting. This marks an increase in overall turnout compared to the 2022 primary, which saw just over 4% of registered voters casting early ballots.
The elections will determine nominees for pivotal positions, including U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, and attorney general. Additionally, four seats on the Texas Supreme Court are up for grabs, alongside all 150 seats in the Texas House and 16 seats in the Texas Senate.
Early voting commenced on February 17 and will continue through February 27, with Election Day set for March 3. This surge in engagement offers a glimpse of the competitive political landscape in Texas as both parties prepare for the critical elections ahead.