Democrats Outpace Republicans in Texas Early Voting, Surging Past 2022 Pace

Democratic early voting in the 2026 Texas primary has surged compared with recent cycles, outpacing Republican turnout in a rare shift for the GOP-dominated state.

Official data from the Texas Secretary of State shows that as of Feb. 23, nearly 483,000 Democratic voters had cast ballots early, an increase of more than 211,000 compared with the same stage of the 2022 midterm primary cycle. Republican early turnout, by comparison, stood at about 446,000 ballots, only modestly above its 2022 pace.

The early voting period began Feb. 17 and continues through Feb. 27 ahead of Election Day on March 3, as voters choose nominees for U.S. Senate, statewide offices and legislative seats.

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Despite the Democratic surge, the overall statewide picture is still evolving, with GOP turnout not dramatically lagging in some counties and the total number of voters still lower than in high-profile general elections. The Democratic bump now raises questions about whether this early enthusiasm will carry into broader turnout in November’s midterms and how it might influence competitive races.

“This level of Democratic early participation at this point is notable and reflects heightened engagement from voters on both sides,” said a Texas political analyst familiar with the data.

The turnout dynamics in Texas could become an early indicator of party energy heading into a pivotal midterm cycle, especially in races for U.S. Senate and statewide offices.

As early voting continues and final totals come in, political strategists will be watching for whether this Democratic surge sustains or if Republicans regain early voting ground.

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