Statewide voter turnout was well above average for a constitutional election.
Driving the news: More than 2.9 million people — about 16% of registered voters — cast a ballot Tuesday. That's upfrom the nearly 2.5 million (14%) who voted in the 2023 constitutional amendment election,per the Texas secretary of state's office.
The big picture: Turnout was higher than expected, especially for an off-year election without top ballot races for Congress or the presidency.
The large number of voters, especially in cities, shows Democratic voters might've felt more energized than Republicans, SMU professor of political science Cal Jillson tells Axios.
State of play: A majority of voters blame President Trump for rising prices and the high cost of living, per a recent poll.
That sentiment appeared to trickle down to local elections, including the Tarrant County state Senate race, where a Democratic union leader and veteran outperformed expectations.
What they're saying: "While the votes were cast in northern Tarrant County, the voters had eyes up toward Washington, D.C.," Jillson says.
What we're watching: Whether the turnout in an off-year election signals Democratic enthusiasm for next year's midterms.
