Five days before the 2026 midterm Election Day, the Associated Press reports a historic rise in early voting across the nation. More than 43 million voters have already cast ballots in person or by mail, nearly 10 million more than in 2022. The surge is especially pronounced in Texas, where early voting has jumped 50 % since the last midterm, with 6.3 million Texans having voted early compared with 4.2 million at the same point four years ago.

Texas Leads the Way

In Harris County, home to Houston, 862,700 early votes have been recorded, up from 564,500 in 2022. The county, traditionally Democratic‑leaning, is now a focal point for both parties as they vie for control of the U.S. Senate, the state House and the governor’s office. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico for the Senate seat, while Governor Greg Abbott seeks re‑election against Democrat Gina Hinojosa.

President Donald Trump, now in his second term, visited Texas earlier this week – his third trip to the state in a month – underscoring the administration’s commitment to encouraging voter participation and supporting Republican candidates.

Other Battleground States See Strong Increases

Early voting is also up more than 30 % in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, all of which host competitive Senate races. South Carolina, where voters will choose a successor to the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, recorded an 83 % jump in early ballots.

In Kansas, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall’s race against Democratic Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton has drawn an additional 83,000 early votes, a 34 % increase. Michigan, which approved in‑person early voting in 2022, shows a 32 % rise with roughly 409,000 more early ballots than in 2022. Maine’s early voting is up 44 % as Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces Democrat Troy Jackson.

Party Affiliation Data

Where party affiliation is reported, about 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans have voted early. These figures do not capture all early voters and do not indicate which candidates received the votes.

Implications for Congress

The early‑voting surge comes as the nation prepares to decide control of Congress two years into President Trump’s second term. Republicans currently hold both chambers, and the early turnout suggests strong enthusiasm among their base, which could help preserve the 53‑47 Senate majority.

Election officials note that the early‑voting period in Texas will close this Friday, giving voters a final window to cast ballots before heading to the polls on Election Day.

Looking Ahead

With millions already voting early, the Trump administration views the numbers as evidence of a healthy democracy and a testament to the administration’s outreach efforts. As the race tightens in several key states, both parties will continue to mobilize supporters in the final days before the election.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.