Record turnout in 2026 Texas primaries, several runoff races set for May

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Last updated: Thursday, March 5, 2026 12:55PM GMT
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It's Your Voice, Your Vote.

Tuesday's Texas primary election saw the highest turnout in the state's history.

On the ballot were local and statewide races, including the race to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.

ABC13 is following the victories, the losses, and what's ahead for the candidates facing runoffs.

May's election will see a Paxton and Cornyn showdown, while Al Green will face off against Christian Menefee.

If you missed your chance to vote in this past election, you may now register to vote in the next primary, which will take place on May 26.

The last day to register for May's runoff races is Monday, April 27, 2026.

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Mar 03, 2026, 11:22 PM GMT

Harris County voter turnout continues to climb as thousands cast their ballots, officials say

Thousands of voters continue to submit their ballots for the 2026 Texas primary election on Tuesday.

As of 4 p.m. on Election Day, over 126,000 people have cast their vote in person in Harris County, according to officials.

Polls are still open until 7 p.m. tonight.

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Mar 03, 2026, 10:54 PM GMT

Long line at voting location in Montrose, SkyEye shows

As Election Day continues, many Houstonians continue to flock to the polls to submit their votes for the Texas primaries, resulting in some long lines.

Voters at a Montrose polling place are waiting a long time in line to cast their ballots.

SkyEye was over the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on West Gray Street as the line to vote wrapped around the building and into the neighborhood.

ABC13's Mycah Hatfield reported that the long line was to vote in the Democratic Primary, while there was no line to vote in the Republican Primary.

BySteve Peoples AP logo
Mar 03, 2026, 9:25 PM GMT

A mess in Texas? What to watch in Tuesday's primaries

The 2026 midterm season begins in earnest on Tuesday with two of the nation's most consequential Senate primaries playing out in Texas.

Republican leaders in Washington openly fret that a victory by conservative firebrand Ken Paxton over four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn would give Democrats a good chance of winning the seat come November.

The contest has already cost Republicans tens of millions of dollars, and there will be much more spent ahead of a May 26 runoff if no one gets 50% in the three-way primary.

Democrats, meanwhile, are picking between two rising stars with conflicting styles, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico.

FULL REPORT: A mess in Texas? What to watch in Tuesday's primaries

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Mar 03, 2026, 7:27 PM GMT

Thousands flock to the polls on Election Day morning, county clerk's office says

Tens of thousands of voters have already visited the polls on Election Day morning, officials said.

According to the Harris County Clerk's Office, about 35,300 people voted in person as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

This comes after 346,797 votes were submitted during the early voting period, including in-person and mail-in ballots, officials said. Of those, 220,284 were for the Democratic primary, and 126,513 were for the Republican primary, according to the clerk's office.