🗳️ Happy Election Day, San Antonio. Go vote if you haven't yet!

🌤️ Today's weather: Rain until about noon, with a high in the upper 70s.

🚗 Situational awareness: Mandatory vehicle emissions testing took effect in Bexar County on Sunday.

🗳️ Know what matters this election. Become a member and support local reporting.

Today’s newsletter is 968 words — a 3.5-minute read.

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: More than 525,000 voters have already cast ballots in Bexar County — a 40% turnout — which surpasses the early voting turnout of 390,042 (32%) 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.

• Bexar County voters will choose a new county judge and a new district attorney.
• Voters will also weigh in on school district tax increases and bonds, plus a proposal to renew and expand Pre-K 4 SA.

The big picture: All eyes are on Texas' U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton as Democrats seek a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber.

• Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking a fourth term against Democrat Gina Hinojosa.

Between the lines: Democrats hope frustration with President Trump will energize voters, while Republicans defend their hold on traditionally red states.

• No Democrat has won statewide in Texas since 1994.

Zoom out: Control of Congress and the Texas Legislature is also at stake.

• The election will test Republicans' redrawing of five Democratic-held U.S. House districts.
• Democrats need to flip 14 seats to take the Texas House and gain four to control the state Senate, both tall orders.

What's next: Polls are open 7am–7pm today, and anyone in line by closing time can still vote.

• Bexar County voters can cast ballots at any polling location and use the county's Election Day map to find a site or check wait times before heading out.
• VIA will offer free rides to polling locations for riders who show a valid Bexar County voter registration card.

Texas' poverty rate climbs when housing costs, medical expenses and other financial realities are factored in, according to Census Bureau data.

Why it matters: Southern states dominate America's traditional poverty rankings. But that familiar geographic divide starts to disappear when more of a family's financial realities are taken into account.

• Axios analyzed 2023-2025 state poverty estimates from the Census Bureau to see what happens when housing, taxes, medical expenses and government benefits enter the picture.

What we found: Texas' poverty rate was 14.4% under the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which accounts for expenses and benefits that the traditional measure leaves out.

• That's above the national three-year SPM average of 13%.
• Under the traditional measure, Texas' poverty rate was 11.7%.

How it works: The traditional measure compares pretax cash income with a family-size threshold that doesn't change by geography.

• The SPM adds benefits such as SNAP and housing assistance, factors in taxes and tax credits, subtracts work and medical expenses, and adjusts for geographic differences in housing costs.

Zoom out: The official poverty rate fell for a third straight year to 10.2%, while child poverty reached a record-low 13.4%.

• Yet the SPM remained statistically unchanged at 13.1% — nearly three percentage points above the official rate.
• Real median household income hit a record $87,460 in 2025.

Yes, but: The SPM doesn't replace the official poverty rate.

• Census designed it as another lens — one that captures resources and unavoidable expenses the traditional measure misses.

The bottom line: Income alone doesn't tell you whether a family can make ends meet.

📆 Northside, North East, Judson and Southwest ISDs canceled classes today, as schools across Bexar County serve as Election Day polling sites. (Express-News 🔑)

🍗 Terry Black's Barbecue will open its first San Antonio location on Nov. 17 on Broadway near Pearl. (KSAT)

⭐️ The NBA named Spurs star Victor Wembanyama the Western Conference Player of the Week. (NBA)

Don't toss that "I voted" sticker. You can take it to San Antonio businesses for freebies and discounts.

Why it matters: It's fun to be rewarded for doing your civic duty.

🧘 Free class: Black Swan Yoga

🛍️ 10% off your order: Make Ready Market

☕️ Free house coffee or iced tea with purchase: Bakery Lorraine

🥞 Free pancake: Kerbey Lane Cafe

😋 10% off any latte: Downtowner Coffee Co.

🥤 30% off any drink: Early Bird Coffee

🍨 Free topping: Lick Honest Ice Cream

If the stress of watching election results roll in has you feeling some type of way, consider stepping outside.

The big picture: A new study suggests spending time in nature can fight loneliness — even if you go it alone.

What they did: The study, published this month in The Lancet Regional Health, followed 320 adults experiencing loneliness in Barcelona.

• Half participated in weekly two-hour group outings to parks, gardens and other spaces for nine weeks.
• The rest received recommendations for free, accessible outdoor activities they could do on their own.

What they found: Loneliness scores dropped an average 10.5% after three months and nearly 17% after a year across both groups.

• Group outings were especially effective for participants who started out lonelier or with poorer emotional well-being.

What they're saying: Nature's sights, sounds and smells can help people relax and connect with others, professor Jill Litt, who co-authored the study, told CU Boulder Today.

• As some participants put it: "Nature doesn't judge you."

Thanks to our editors Astrid Galván and Bob Gee.

🍕 Madalyn is deciding where to order her election night pizza from.

😊 Megan is glad she voted early so she can touch grass today before working all night.