TEXAS ELECTION WATCH | NOVEMBER 3, 2026
Texas, the polls are closed for most of the state, and now the waiting begins. Voters have made their choices in a midterm election that could reshape the state’s political landscape. The big races are drawing attention, but the numbers coming in tonight are still preliminary. We are not at the finish line just because the polls have closed.
The races getting attention
The governor’s race between Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa is one to watch. So is the U.S. Senate contest between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico. These races could tell us a lot about where Texas voters stand on the direction of the state and who they want representing them in Austin and Washington.
And this is not just about the statewide names. Congressional districts, the Texas Legislature, judicial seats and local contests are also on the ballot. What happens in those races can affect everything from public schools and healthcare to taxes, courts and the policies that reach our neighborhoods.
Early numbers are not the final story
The Texas Tribune reported that more than 40% of voters cast ballots early, setting a record for early turnout in a non-presidential election year. Its election-night reporting also showed Democratic candidates James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa performing strongly in several urban and suburban areas, while Republicans were looking to Election Day votes to narrow those gaps.
That is worth watching, but let’s be clear: early returns are not certified results, and a lead is not the same as a win. Counties still have ballots to process and results to report. I’ll be paying attention to which races are actually called, which remain too close to call, and what the final numbers mean for Texans.
Keep an eye on the results
You can follow the statewide vote totals through The Texas Tribune’s live results tracker. For Houston and Harris County, see FOX 26’s Harris County results updates and KPRC 2’s Texas election-night coverage.
Texas is a big state, and these results will not all come in at once. The question tonight is not simply who is ahead. It is which leads hold, which races shift as more votes are counted, and what kind of Texas voters are asking their leaders to build next.
Sources:
The Texas Tribune — 2026 midterm election live coverage
The Texas Tribune — Texas live election results
FOX 26 Houston — Harris County election results
KPRC 2 — Texas election night updates
The Texas Tribune — Early voting turnout
Leave a Reply