It's Election Day. Here's what to know and key races to watch

Houston Chronicle · Megan Kimble · 2026-11-03 10:00 UTC

More than 7.7 million Texans have already cast their ballots during early voting. If you plan to vote today, here’s what you need to know.

The campaign ads are finished. Pollsters have made their final surveys. After months of speculation, the state’s high-intensity midterms barrel to the finish line today as voters head to the polls for Election Day.

The stakes could not be higher for both parties. Democrats appear within striking distance of winning their first statewide race in three decades, while Republicans have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into proving the state is still reliably red.

The U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is the costliest nonpresidential political contest in U.S. history. The race will help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate during President Donald Trump’s final two years in office.

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