General election early voting began October 21 and will conclude on November 1. Election Day is November 5.
To date, nearly 3 million Texans, or 15% of the Texas voting population has earned their “I Voted” sticker according to the Ryan Report. The Lone Star State boasts 18.6 million registered voters.
Texas’ demographic shifts and population growth – particularly in urban areas – make this election interesting on multiple fronts. For example, voter unrest makes the Cruz v. Allred United States Senate race one of the most expensive races in Senate history, with over $130 million spent to date, and that number continues to grow. Senator Cruz is expected to hold the seat, but predictions are still indicating that it will be very close.
Texas’ congressional election cycle has a couple of tight races. Incumbents are largely expected to hold their seats, including Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Tony Gonzales.
Due to retirements and other factors, there are 16 open seats in the Texas House and several seats held by incumbents may flip. At stake is the House Speaker’s Office and what the election results will mean for leadership in the lower chamber. While the Texas Senate has one open seat, the dynamics are not expected to change.
Nationally, all eyes are on the White House. There could be some state level shifts if the Republican nominee wins. Time will tell. Either way, Texas will continue to lead the nation as an example of low taxes, with a strong business environment and good people.
Make sure to take the time to vote, and remember to say ‘thank you’ to the election workers and be kind to them, and everyone waiting to cast their vote.
