Democrat James Talarico Leads Trump’s Ally Ken Paxton by 2.2 Points
On Tuesday, RealClearPolitics published a poll showing that, by the end of the first day of early voting, Texas had broken turnout records in several counties. This happens in a state where Republicans have a key Senate seat at stake.
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In Texas, which began early voting on Monday and is home to one of the most closely watched U.S. races, Democrat James Talarico leads Ken Paxton, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, by 2.2 points.
In Harris County, the most populous county in terms of registered voters, more than 104,600 people cast ballots. The figure broke the record for early voting in a midterm election, set in 2018 at 63,188 votes, according to ABC News data.
Harris County, which includes Houston and leans Democratic, is one of the state’s most important areas for analyzing voter turnout because of the size of its electorate. The figures will offer clues as to whether Talarico can win the seat in a traditionally Republican state.
BREAKING: James Talarico just released an incredible video reminding every American what hope feels like. This is the best political ad we’ve seen in a long time. pic.twitter.com/DnLWyw5dwY
— Democratic Wins Media (@DemocraticWins) October 20, 2026
In Dallas County, another Democratic stronghold, early voting set a historic first-day record, with 76,079 ballots cast, the highest figure since records began and surpassing even first-day turnout in previous presidential elections, according to data from county elections registrar Clay Lewis Jenkins.
In Collin County, northeast of Dallas, 34,522 voters cast ballots, representing a significant increase over the 2022 midterm elections. A similar trend was observed in Denton County, which reported 34,739 in-person early votes, surpassing the county’s previous first-day voting record.
The phenomenon is also evident in Republican-leaning counties. According to The Texas Tribune, Montgomery County, considered a Republican stronghold, recorded its highest turnout ever for a midterm election. The same trend was reflected in Ellis County in North Texas and in Bell and McLennan counties in the central part of the state.
Next week, Trump will return to Texas to campaign for Paxton, marking his fourth visit to the state during the current election cycle.
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Source: EFE – RealClearPolitics – ABC – The Texas Tribune
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