The key facts

  • Early voting in Texas began on Monday; queues formed in Houston
  • Polls show a slight advantage for Democrats Ortiz Jones and Talarico
  • Federal prosecutor Aaron Reitz warned of prosecuting violators of election law

Start of Early Voting

Early voting began in Texas on Monday ahead of the November midterm elections. The state, traditionally considered a Republican stronghold, has become the arena for some of the most closely watched races in the country. Queues formed at a polling station in Houston from early morning. Voters are choosing between Democrats, who emphasize economic problems, and Republicans, oriented toward President Donald Trump.

The Governor's Race

According to polls, Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, a 52-year-old lawyer, is slightly ahead of the incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, 68, who is running for a fourth term. “We have never been this close to victory,” Ortiz Jones said on Sunday, adding that if Democrats do not win now, a second such chance may not come.

The Fight for a Senate Seat

In the race for a U.S. Senate seat, Democrat James Talarico, a 37-year-old former teacher, has managed to mobilize voters and, according to polls, is slightly ahead of Trump's ally, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, 63. Paxton has been surrounded by scandals for years: securities fraud charges were settled without an admission of guilt, accusations of infidelity figured around the breakdown of his marriage, and questions arose about ties to wealthy donors. In 2023, the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives impeached Paxton on charges of corruption and abuse of power, but the state senate later acquitted him. Paxton also supported Trump in 2020, when he challenged his election defeat to Joe Biden without evidence.

Party Strategies and Voter Sentiment

Ortiz Jones and Talarico represent a new generation of Democrats seeking to attract independent voters and those disillusioned with Trump's unpopular, according to polls, war in the Middle East and rising prices for gasoline and everyday goods. Democrats also hope to regain the support of Hispanic voters, who in 2024 largely voted for Trump but are now, according to polls, increasingly dissatisfied with immigration raids. Republicans, for their part, are betting on turnout among the president's supporters, which he has called for. “I want Donald Trump to finish what he promised to do,” said 64-year-old voter Rose Mary Cuervas.

The Prosecutor's Warning

Both Republican candidates — Abbott and Paxton — avoided debates before the vote. As voters went to the polls, federal prosecutor in Texas Aaron Reitz posted a video address on X: “Only eligible voters may vote. No disenfranchised inmates, no foreigners. If you violate federal election law, I will find you and prosecute you.”