What's at stake for Houston voters on Election Day
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Campaign signs outside Metropolitan Multi-Service Center. Photo: Antranik Tavitian/Bloomberg via Getty Images
After months of campaigning, political ads and lawn signs, the time has come. It's Election Day.
Why it matters: Voters could usher in a major political shift — or reinforce Republicans' decades-long dominance in statewide politics.
State of play: Turnout has been high. More than 1 million Harris County voters have cast their ballots — about 39% of registered voters. That rivals the 2024 presidential election and surpasses the early voting turnout in 2022, the last midterm election.
What's on the ballot: Texans will vote for U.S. senator, governor, congressional representatives and other statewide and local offices.
- Harris County voters will choose a new county judge for the first time since 2018, with Democrat Letitia Plummer facing Republican Orlando Sanchez. Two county commissioner seats and other local offices are also on the ballot.
- Houston voters will also decide on a proposal to make enforcement of low-level marijuana possession a low priority for police and ban no-knock warrants.
The big picture: All eyes are on Texas' U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton as Democrats nationally seek a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber.
- Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking a fourth term against Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
What we're watching: Similar to past elections, the Department of Justice plans to send federal election monitors to select Harris County voting locations, per a release from the County Clerk's office.
- County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth says election officials are prepared for potential interference, with County Attorney Abbie Kamin authorized to quickly pursue legal action if needed, per the Houston Chronicle.
Zoom in: Election season has brought a buzz to Houston, from campaign videos and lawn signs to get-out-the-vote posters plastered across the city.
- Some residents have left 'I Voted" stickers at a memorial honoring Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed by an ICE agent this summer, dedicating their votes to him and immigrants who cannot vote.
Meanwhile, Republicans have been sounding the alarm. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz warned Friday that his party could lose every statewide race in Texas, calling the contests "excruciatingly close."
The bottom line: It's a big election. Vote if you haven't. Then comes the wait for results.