The Texas Tribune announced an expansion of its sample ballot tool to include local elections and propositions for voters in the state's 50 most populous counties. The expanded tool now covers races from U.S. Senate to constables and school board trustees, as well as local propositions and bond elections.
The Texas Tribune, organization that expanded ballot tool
An October 3 New York Times/Siena College poll of 615 likely Texas voters found Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton in the Senate race, and Democrat Gina Hinojosa leading incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the governor race. The results mark shifts from earlier polling.
New York Times/Siena College, pollster; James Talarico, Democratic candidate for Texas Senate; Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for Texas Senate and 2 more
October 5, 2026 was the final deadline for Texas voters to register or update their registration for the November 3, 2026 midterm general election. Texas counties experienced a significant backlog of voter registration forms due to hundreds of thousands of records sent by the Texas Department of Public Safety about two weeks prior.
$Not stated for grants to Texas elections offices
Texas Department of Public Safety, sent backlog of voter registration records to elections offices; Celia Israel, Travis County Tax Assessor and former State Rep.; Chris McGinn, executive director of Texas Association of County Election Officials and 3 more
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton raised $18 million in the third quarter of 2026 for his U.S. Senate campaign against Democrat James Talarico. The haul more than doubled his second-quarter fundraising of $9 million.
$$18 million for third-quarter campaign funds raised
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, Republican U.S. Senate candidate; James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Austin state representative; Nick Maddux, Paxton senior adviser
In leaked audio recordings from a private Washington fundraiser on Sept. 24, Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton said the Republican convention in Dallas "dropped our numbers" and complained that Washington D.C. controls his campaign messaging rather than his own team.
$upward of $200 million for republican-aligned ad spending supporting Paxton
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General and Republican U.S. Senate nominee; James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, state representative from Austin; Donald Trump, President and 1 more
Dated record: September 6, 2012 This is not new. It happened on September 6, 2012, about 14 years ago. It resurfaced in a source feed on October 3, 2026.
VoteTexas.gov, the official online source for voting information in Texas powered by the Office of the Secretary of State, was featured in this month's government spotlight on Texas.gov. The spotlight is timed to help Texans prepare for the November election.
Hope Andrade, Texas Secretary of State; Texas Secretary of State, Office that powers VoteTexas.gov
Dated record: September 24, 2013 This is not new. It happened on September 24, 2013, about 13 years ago. It resurfaced in a source feed on October 3, 2026.
Texas Secretary of State John Steen and Public Safety Commission Chair Cynthia Leon announced a partnership to offer Election Identification Certificates at 25 mobile stations deploying across Texas beginning October 1. The certificates are free for qualified Texas voters without approved photo ID required for in-person voting.
John Steen, Texas Secretary of State; Cynthia Leon, Public Safety Commission Chair; Texas Secretary of State, Government agency announcing partnership and 1 more
Dated record: October 24, 2013 This is not new. It happened on October 24, 2013, about 13 years ago. It resurfaced in a source feed on October 3, 2026.
Texas Secretary of State John Steen reminded voters that photo ID is required for in-person voting in the Nov. 5 election, but names on the ID and voter registration do not need to match exactly. Steen said poll workers have been trained to accept substantially similar names and that voters without approved photo ID can vote provisionally.
NPR senior political editor Domenico Montanaro discusses polling trends ahead of midterm elections. He notes that polls show movement toward Democrats, that the Senate is within reach for Democrats, and that voters should be cautious about interpreting narrow poll margins as statistically significant.
Domenico Montanaro, NPR senior political editor and correspondent; President Trump, Campaigning for GOP candidates
Voters interviewed at the Texas State Fair discussed whether Black voter turnout could be crucial to Democrat James Talarico's chances against Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race. Multiple voters expressed that the election represents an opportunity for change in Texas.
James Talarico, Democrat seeking Texas Senate seat; Ken Paxton, Republican in Texas Senate race; Mike, Military veteran from Dallas, voter and 5 more
Republican congressional candidate Mark Teixeira discussed key issues facing Texas voters, including the rising cost of living, and shared his thoughts on the Texas Senate race.
Socialist streamer Hasan Piker said state Rep. James Talarico must remember who put him in power and "play ball" with the left if he wins Texas' U.S. Senate race. RNC Research circulated a video of Piker's remarks on September 30.
Hasan Piker, Socialist streamer; James Talarico, State Rep., District 50, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate; RNC Research, Circulated video of remarks and 1 more
Republicans redrew Texas congressional districts hoping to gain up to nine seats combined with Florida, but candidates face tougher races than expected due to public dissatisfaction with Trump, the economy, the Iran war, and immigration policies. Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Texas for Republican candidate Eric Flores.
Eric Flores, Republican candidate for Congress in 34th Congressional District; JD Vance, Vice President, appeared at campaign event in Texas; Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Democratic incumbent in 34th Congressional District and 5 more
Bexar County Elections Department held an open house and job fair on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Residents toured the facility including voter registration, mail room, warehouse, and ballot tabulation areas.
Texas State Senator Angela Paxton, estranged wife of Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, released an advertisement stating she will vote for the Republican ticket on November 3. She did not mention her husband by name in the ad. Paxton filed for divorce from Ken Paxton in July 2025, citing adultery.
$$131 million for super PAC spending on Texas Senate race
Angela Paxton, Texas State Senator; estranged wife of Ken Paxton; Ken Paxton, Republican Senate nominee; Texas Attorney General; James Talarico, Democratic Senate nominee and 2 more
Early voting in the Senate District 28 special election runs from August 25 through September 5, with the election on September 9. The special election is to replace former state Senator Robert Duncan. Photo ID is required to vote in person.
Nandita Berry, Texas Secretary of State; Robert Duncan, former state Senator
Dated record: October 14, 2014 This is not new. It happened on October 14, 2014, about 12 years ago. It resurfaced in a source feed on October 3, 2026.
The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay on an injunction that would have blocked photo ID requirements for the Nov. 4 Election. Photo ID requirements will remain in effect for the election.
U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Court that issued the stay; Nandita Berry, Texas Secretary of State
Dated record: September 21, 2016 This is not new. It happened on September 21, 2016, about 10 years ago. It resurfaced in a source feed on October 3, 2026.
Texas Secretary of State Cascos announced that voters without approved photo ID have additional options when voting in person for school tax elections and the November General Election. Voters unable to obtain one of seven forms of approved photo ID may sign a declaration at the polls and provide supporting documentation such as a birth certificate, utility bill, bank statement, or government check.
Tarrant County commissioners voted to remove the early voting polling location at University of Texas at Arlington, saying it was too close to another polling site. The decision reduces overall voting locations in the county and affects student voters ahead of the November 3 election.
Tarrant County commissioners, Voted to remove polling location; Tim O'Hare, Tarrant County Judge; Clinton Ludwig, Tarrant County elections administrator and 4 more
Dated record: October 26, 2016 This is not new. It happened on October 26, 2016, about 10 years ago. It resurfaced in a source feed on October 3, 2026.
Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos reminded voters that Oct. 28 is the deadline for county early voting clerks to receive vote-by-mail applications. Early voting in person runs through Nov. 4.