Nearly one in four registered voters in Texas – a total of 4.3 million people – cast a ballot in Tuesday’s primaries, marking a high point for midterm election turnout in the state’s recent history. This surge in participation was fueled by competitive races for U.S. Senate on both sides of the aisle.
A Shift in Turnout
Approximately 2.2 million ballots were cast in the Democratic primary, and over 2 million in the Republican primary, according to unofficial numbers from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office as of Wednesday afternoon. This marks the first time since 2020, when voters participated in an open presidential primary, that Democratic turnout exceeded Republican turnout.
The state saw increased energy from both parties. In the Democratic primary, state Rep. James Talarico was selected over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas to be their Senate nominee. On the Republican side, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will face each other in a runoff election on May 26 to determine who will compete against Talarico in November.
Democratic turnout was notably higher than in the 2018 midterm election, when approximately 7 percent of registered voters participated in the Democratic primary compared to 12 percent this year. In 2018, then-Congressman Beto O’Rourke came within 2.6 points of unseating GOP U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Geographic Trends in Voter Participation
A geographic analysis revealed increased political engagement across the state. Nearly two-thirds of Texas counties – 158 of 254 – saw higher percentages of registered voters participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary this year compared to the 2022 midterm.
Turnout was highest in solidly red counties, including Lubbock County, and fast-growing suburban counties like Tarrant and Fort Bend, all exceeding 24 percent. The largest liberal counties saw a turnout of nearly 22 percent, while border counties had the lowest participation at 19 percent. However, all geographic areas experienced an increase in turnout compared to four years ago.
Approximately 17 percent and 18 percent of registered voters participated in the 2018 and 2022 primaries, respectively, compared to about 23 percent this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drove the high turnout in the Texas primaries?
The high turnout was driven by electrifying momentum surrounding both parties’ races for U.S. Senate.
Who will be on the ballot in November for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas?
The Democratic nominee will be state Rep. James Talarico. The Republican nominee will be the winner of the May 26 runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
How does this year’s Democratic turnout compare to previous midterm elections?
Democratic turnout was significantly higher than in 2018, the last midterm when President Donald Trump was in office, with 12 percent of registered voters participating this year compared to 7 percent in 2018.
As Texas heads toward the November general election, will the momentum from these primaries translate into broader shifts in the state’s political landscape?
