Texas had logged more than 5.1 million early ballots by Oct. 27, equal to 26.8% of registered voters, as Democrats sought Latino support in governor and U.S. Senate contests ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
The Texas Secretary of State’s office provided the statewide figures. They do not break down participation by ethnicity or indicate how voters will cast their ballots.
Maria Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino told AFP that young Latino turnout in the Rio Grande Valley was 12,000 votes ahead of the comparable point four years earlier. Kumar presented this as an estimate, separate from the official statewide tally.
Economic concerns are another part of the reported picture. An online YouGov poll for N+ Univision, conducted Oct. 13-21 among 980 registered Latino voters in Texas, found that 42% said their household finances were worse than a year earlier and 63% cited grocery and food prices as a major strain. EconoTimes previously reported the poll findings.
Democrats have gone more than 30 years without a statewide Texas victory. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa is running for governor, while Democratic state Rep. James Talarico is challenging Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for a U.S. Senate seat. AFP reported that Democrats are seeking four Senate seats nationally to secure control of the chamber.
Benny Menendez, a construction business owner who voted for President Donald Trump in 2024, told AFP that immigration raids had frightened workers and delayed several projects. Menendez said he would now vote for Democrats. AFP also reported that recent polls suggest some Rio Grande Valley voters have become less satisfied with Trump’s economic record and immigration policies.
Rights groups said federal personnel at polling locations could discourage voters, particularly Latinos who have often faced immigration raids. AFP said Trump had traveled to Texas three times during the preceding month and had raised the prospect of voter fraud. The U.S. midterms are scheduled for Nov. 3.
