Texas leads record early voting surge as Senate races heat up

More than 43 million Americans have cast ballots early in person or by mail as of Wednesday, five days before the midterm elections. This total is nearly 10 million higher than the count recorded at the same point in the 2022 cycle. The data, compiled by the Associated Press, covers 47 states and Washington, D.C. The surge in participation is most visible in states hosting competitive Senate contests.

Texas has seen the largest absolute increase in advance voting. Over 6.3 million Texans voted early as of Wednesday, compared with 4.2 million at the same point four years ago. This represents a 50% increase in participation. Harris County, which includes Houston, recorded 862,700 early votes as of Wednesday, up from 564,500 in 2022. The two-week early in-person voting period in Texas ends Friday.

In South Carolina, early voting is up 83% compared with the 2022 midterms. Voters in the state are choosing a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. The state also has an open race for governor. In Kansas, early voting has increased by 34%, with roughly 83,000 more ballots cast than at the same point four years ago. Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton in that state's Senate race.

Maine and Michigan, both featuring closely watched Senate races, also report substantial gains. Early voting in Maine is up 44% from the 2022 cycle. Republican Sen. Susan Collins is running against Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. Michigan has recorded roughly 409,000 more early votes than in 2022, a 32% increase. This is the first midterm election where early in-person voting is available statewide in Michigan, a measure voters approved in November 2022.

In states that report party affiliation, about 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans have cast early ballots. These figures do not account for all early voters nationwide nor indicate which specific candidates received their votes. North Carolina also reports a more than 30% increase in early voting compared to the same point in 2022.

The election will determine control of Congress two years into President Donald Trump's second term. Republicans currently hold the majority in both the House and the Senate. They are defending a 53-47 Senate majority in a midterm map where Democrats are seeking upsets in traditionally Republican states.

Texas remains a focal point for campaign spending as Republicans attempt to hold a state where Democrats have not won a statewide election in over three decades. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico in the Senate race, while Republican Gov. Greg Abbott seeks reelection against Democrat Gina Hinojosa. Trump visited Texas earlier this week, marking his third trip to the state in a month.