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Texans surge to polls during early voting

Statewide, in-person early voting turnout was 37.6% of registered voters.

News

In-person <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="early voting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/10/26/early-voting-turnout-texas-midterm-election" data-vars-content-id="7b863834-69e9-4739-ac06-2ef86b2ca82b" data-vars-headline="Texans surge to polls during early voting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/10/26/early-voting-turnout-texas-midterm-election" target="_self">early voting</a> turnout surpassed 2018 levels in four of Texas&#x27; five largest counties ahead of Tuesday&#x27;s closely watched election.Why it matters: The figures don&#x27;t indicate which candidates are benefiting, but suggest voter enthusiasm is rivaling or surpassing that seen during the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2018 Senate race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2018/11/07/midterm-elections-results-texas-senate-cruz" data-vars-content-id="7b863834-69e9-4739-ac06-2ef86b2ca82b" data-vars-headline="Texans surge to polls during early voting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2018/11/07/midterm-elections-results-texas-senate-cruz" target="_self">2018 Senate race</a>, when Republican Ted Cruz narrowly defeated Democrat Beto O&#x27;Rourke.

How Texas went Democratic

So long a red state, Texas is suddenly blue.

Texas woke up red on Tuesday and went to bed blue. Why it matters: Just months ago, Democratic campaigns in the MAGA heartland appeared quixotic — obligatory more than realistic.

Austin 2026 election results

Voters had the chance to weigh in on Austin City Council incumbents.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Voters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/10/19/austin-election-midterm-city-council" data-vars-content-id="0c867061-0d92-48cb-bd2f-87d9ed0b03e0" data-vars-headline="Austin 2026 election results" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/10/19/austin-election-midterm-city-council" target="_self">Voters</a> in Austin gave one Austin City Council incumbent another four years while two others couldn&#x27;t quite avoid a runoff.Driving the news: In District 9, incumbent Zohaib &quot;Zo&quot; Qadri earned 51.4% of the vote, defeating Rich Heyman (24.7%) and Katie Kam (17.5%) and two other candidates, in a central city district where the race became a referendum on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dense development in the city&#x27;s older neighborhoods" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/10/21/austin-city-council-zo-heyman" data-vars-content-id="0c867061-0d92-48cb-bd2f-87d9ed0b03e0" data-vars-headline="Austin 2026 election results" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/10/21/austin-city-council-zo-heyman" target="_self">dense development in the city&#x27;s older neighborhoods</a>.

Some Austinites who vote differently live together

Meet some Austinites who live together — but vote differently.

Politics

Aline Garcia Weinheimer, who votes Democratic, and her husband, Bruce, who votes Republican, have a deal in their southwest Austin home: She watches broadcast news starting at 5:30pm and he gets to take over the remote at 7pm for Fox News.Why it matters: In this <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="partisan era" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/21/us-generation-polls-economy-middle-east-politics" data-vars-content-id="4b493eef-76a4-48b3-bb39-d12bac44680c" data-vars-headline="Some Austinites who vote differently live together" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/21/us-generation-polls-economy-middle-east-politics" target="_self">partisan era</a>, many Austinites can&#x27;t stomach the idea of living with someone who has opposite <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="voting predilections" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/10/26/early-voting-turnout-texas-midterm-election" data-vars-content-id="4b493eef-76a4-48b3-bb39-d12bac44680c" data-vars-headline="Some Austinites who vote differently live together" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/10/26/early-voting-turnout-texas-midterm-election" target="_self">voting predilections</a> — yet a small portion of Travis County households include at least one member who votes differently from the others.

Inside Austin's buzziest new Tex Mex spot

The restaurant opened last month on the grounds of the former Oak Hill elementary school.

Food and Drink

👋 Nicole here. I somehow scored a reservation to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Escuela" data-vars-click-url="https://escuelafarm.com/" data-vars-content-id="48b0102b-9f26-4b47-835e-4a04ff1eb8d4" data-vars-headline="Inside Austin&#x27;s buzziest new Tex Mex spot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://escuelafarm.com/" target="_blank">Escuela</a> before Oak Hill&#x27;s newest farm-to-table Tex Mex spot blew up on social media.<ul><li>I now understand what all the fuss is about.</li></ul>

Five questions with Kerbey Lane's Mason Ayer

Kerbey Lane's new Queso for Classrooms initiative supports Austin ISD students' school lunch debt.

Kerbey Lane Cafe is turning its beloved queso into a way to help pay off local students&#x27; school lunch debt.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kerbey Lane&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kerbeylanecafe.com/" data-vars-content-id="31bf8336-4562-4fa4-9e77-9e5f627fd790" data-vars-headline="Five questions with Kerbey Lane&#x27;s Mason Ayer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kerbeylanecafe.com/" target="_blank">Kerbey Lane&#x27;s</a> new Queso for Classrooms initiative directs a portion of queso sales at all 10 locations toward paying off Austin ISD students&#x27; outstanding school meal balances.

Two Austin restaurants earn new Michelin stars

Austin now has seven Michelin-starred restaurants, more than any other city in Texas.

Two more Austin restaurants — Fabrik in Tarrytown and downtown&#x27;s Kappo Kappo — have earned coveted <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Michelin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/11/12/michelin-guide-texas-austin-restaurant-winners" data-vars-content-id="798a1492-f0ec-48d5-a4c0-644f6d8e6ff4" data-vars-headline="Two Austin restaurants earn new Michelin stars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/11/12/michelin-guide-texas-austin-restaurant-winners" target="_self">Michelin</a> stars, bringing the city&#x27;s total to seven in the latest Texas dining guide.Why it matters: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Michelin Guide" data-vars-click-url="https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/texas/restaurants" data-vars-content-id="798a1492-f0ec-48d5-a4c0-644f6d8e6ff4" data-vars-headline="Two Austin restaurants earn new Michelin stars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/texas/restaurants" target="_blank">Michelin Guide</a> endorsement brings restaurants international acclaim. Plus, the recognition can be a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="boon for business" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/09/15/michelin-recognition-impact-colorado-restaurants" data-vars-content-id="798a1492-f0ec-48d5-a4c0-644f6d8e6ff4" data-vars-headline="Two Austin restaurants earn new Michelin stars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/09/15/michelin-recognition-impact-colorado-restaurants" target="_self">boon for business</a>.

Desert Island Dish with Jess Pryles

Pryles new book, "Prime Cuts," is out on Oct. 6.

Austin-based cook, author and certified meat scientist Jess Pryles has built a career around live-fire cooking, so it&#x27;s no surprise her desert island meal starts with a steak over charcoal.Zoom in: Originally from Australia, Pryles now calls Austin home and regularly shares her meat experience at Texas A&amp;M&#x27;s famed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Camp Brisket" data-vars-click-url="https://meat.tamu.edu/texas-bbq/bbq-camps/camp-brisket/" data-vars-content-id="6698e898-34fa-4f26-8a78-c2f6e5f240e7" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Jess Pryles" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://meat.tamu.edu/texas-bbq/bbq-camps/camp-brisket/" target="_blank">Camp Brisket</a>.

Desert Island Dish with Rachel Salim

The baker behind a gluten-free cafe on Burnet shares her favorite meal.

As part of our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="running feature" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/13/desert-island-dish-david-munoz" data-vars-content-id="ce08c382-41f5-4cd6-99c7-5ea5716bc2af" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Rachel Salim" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/13/desert-island-dish-david-munoz" target="_self">running feature</a> on Austin chefs&#x27; favorite meals, we recently caught up with Rachel Salim, owner of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sweet Charli Girl" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sweetcharligirl.com/" data-vars-content-id="ce08c382-41f5-4cd6-99c7-5ea5716bc2af" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Rachel Salim" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sweetcharligirl.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Charli Girl</a>, a gluten-free bakery on Burnet Road.The backstory: Salim, who has a gluten intolerance, attended Lake Travis High before studying at Baylor and working as a corporate consultant.

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Austin

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

Things to Do

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Social Club" data-vars-click-url="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" data-vars-content-id="54367bc7-f187-46b0-b26c-ce6d12ca2cf6" data-vars-headline="Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" target="_blank">Axios Social Club</a> is bringing readers together for dinner in East Austin on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin

Breweries, parties and more in Austin and beyond.

It&#x27;s Oktoberfest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/07/when-austin-s-leaves-will-peak-this-fall" data-vars-content-id="2fc7906b-1086-43d4-802b-63033f735246" data-vars-headline="Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/07/when-austin-s-leaves-will-peak-this-fall" target="_self">season</a>, and you don&#x27;t have to go far to mark the occasion in Central Texas.Why it matters: Despite its name, the German <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="beer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/08/28/texas-breweries-craft-beer-slowdown" data-vars-content-id="2fc7906b-1086-43d4-802b-63033f735246" data-vars-headline="Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/08/28/texas-breweries-craft-beer-slowdown" target="_self">beer</a> celebration begins in September. It&#x27;s a fun way to ring in the fall season and honor the region&#x27;s plentiful German heritage.

Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman

Joshua Weissman is opening a fried-chicken restaurant on East Cesar Chavez.

As part of our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="running feature" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/27/desert-island-dish-susana-querejazu" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/27/desert-island-dish-susana-querejazu" target="_self">running feature</a> about Austin chefs&#x27; favorite meals, we recently caught up with Joshua Weissman, whose restaurant <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ben &amp; Lynn&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.benandlynns.com/" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.benandlynns.com/" target="_blank">Ben &amp; Lynn&#x27;s</a> opens this weekend in a 1920s bungalow on East Cesar Chavez Street.The backstory: Weissman, 30, has worked in the kitchens of Odd Duck and Uchiko, but lately has been building an online audience for his cooking videos, with more than 22 million followers across <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="YouTube" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaWeissman" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaWeissman" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Instagram" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/joshuaweissman/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/joshuaweissman/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="TikTok" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tiktok.com/@flakeysalt?lang=en" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@flakeysalt?lang=en" target="_blank">TikTok</a>.

Texas breweries face slowdown

The number of Texas breweries dropped from 440 in 2024 to 420 in 2025, per the Brewers Association.

Fewer new breweries are opening in Texas, even as some breweries are closing, per recently released information from the Brewers Association.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="once-thriving industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/11/decline-craft-beer-festival-gabf-2023" data-vars-content-id="aa846c67-562d-4dee-8ba6-1802d3e6003b" data-vars-headline="Texas breweries face slowdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/11/decline-craft-beer-festival-gabf-2023" target="_self">once-thriving industry</a> is now struggling amid <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a shift away from alcohol consumption" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/24/dry-january-february-athletic-beer" data-vars-content-id="aa846c67-562d-4dee-8ba6-1802d3e6003b" data-vars-headline="Texas breweries face slowdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/24/dry-january-february-athletic-beer" target="_self">a shift away from alcohol consumption</a>, particularly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="among younger people" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/drinking-alcohol-unhealthy-gen-z-millennials-poll" data-vars-content-id="aa846c67-562d-4dee-8ba6-1802d3e6003b" data-vars-headline="Texas breweries face slowdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/drinking-alcohol-unhealthy-gen-z-millennials-poll" target="_self">among younger people</a>, and brewers are looking for ways to adapt.

Austin restaurants let diners name their price

Four Austin restaurants are letting diners decide what to pay for their meals as part of a global experiment.

Some of Austin&#x27;s most acclaimed restaurants will let diners decide their own bill Wednesday, part of a global experiment in making dining out more accessible.Why it matters: Dining can easily become a special-occasion expense. For one day, four Austin restaurants — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nixta Taqueria" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nixtataqueria.com/" data-vars-content-id="cacea4e9-39ff-4eb9-913c-53d51e133b05" data-vars-headline="Austin restaurants let diners name their price" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nixtataqueria.com/" target="_blank">Nixta Taqueria</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="L&#x27;Oca d&#x27;Oro" data-vars-click-url="https://locadoroaustin.com/" data-vars-content-id="cacea4e9-39ff-4eb9-913c-53d51e133b05" data-vars-headline="Austin restaurants let diners name their price" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://locadoroaustin.com/" target="_blank">L&#x27;Oca d&#x27;Oro</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lenoir" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lenoirrestaurant.com/" data-vars-content-id="cacea4e9-39ff-4eb9-913c-53d51e133b05" data-vars-headline="Austin restaurants let diners name their price" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lenoirrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Lenoir</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Comadre Panadería" data-vars-click-url="https://comadrepanaderia.com/" data-vars-content-id="cacea4e9-39ff-4eb9-913c-53d51e133b05" data-vars-headline="Austin restaurants let diners name their price" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://comadrepanaderia.com/" target="_blank">Comadre Panadería</a> — will remove that price barrier.

Food and Drink 🍽

Inside Austin's buzziest new Tex Mex spot

Five questions with Kerbey Lane's Mason Ayer

Two Austin restaurants earn new Michelin stars

Desert Island Dish with Jess Pryles

Desert Island Dish with Rachel Salim