The Department of Justice announced it will deploy approximately 1,000 election monitors across all 50 U.S. states during the 2026 midterm election. Seven Texas counties—Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Waller, Blanco, Bowie, and Nueces—are receiving monitors as part of this oversight effort.
Monitors drawn from DOJ Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney's Offices, and Office of Personnel Management.3
Monitors will evaluate compliance with Voting Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Help America Vote Act, and National Voter Registration Act.3
Biden administration deployed over 700 monitors in 2024.12Stated by 2 sources
Harris County Clerk acknowledged election monitors have been used locally for years.12Stated by 2 sources
DOJ uses monitor information to provide feedback to local jurisdictions on federal law compliance.12Stated by 2 sources
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Don Palmer, Heritage Foundation Election monitors ensure things run smoothly and prevent shenanigans at polling places.12
Don Palmer, Heritage Foundation Both political parties and all administrations have sent attorneys and staff to monitor elections.12
Kiersten Pels, DOJ spokeswoman Election monitoring is routine practice the DOJ has done for decades.12
Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General This is the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history, deploying monitors in assertive and nondiscriminatory manner.3
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
ELECTION INTEGRITY: DOJ Will Deploy 1,000 Election Monitors During Midterms
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa held a joint rally at Houston's Bayou Music Center on October 31, 2026, three days before Election Day on November 3. Both candidates centered their closing argument on opposing Republican backing by billionaire Elon Musk.
James Talarico, Senate candidate and Texas House member since 2018; Gina Hinojosa, Democratic gubernatorial nominee; Ken Paxton, Attorney General and Republican Senate opponent and 1 more
Voters in Tarrant County cast ballots on Nov. 3, 2026 for district clerk and county clerk. For district clerk, Republican incumbent Tom Wilder faced Democratic challenger Nathan Smith. For county clerk, Republican incumbent Mary Louise Nicholson faced Democratic challenger Lydia Bean.
Tom Wilder, Republican incumbent for Tarrant County district clerk; Nathan Smith, Democratic challenger for Tarrant County district clerk; Mary Louise Nicholson, Republican incumbent for Tarrant County county clerk and 1 more
Willie Nelson, a musician, endorsed James Talarico, the Democratic candidate in the Texas U.S. Senate race against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, days before the Nov. 3 election.
$$20 million for monthly sales of Willie's Remedy+ hemp THC drink
Willie Nelson, Singer and hemp product business owner, endorser of Talarico; James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas; Ken Paxton, Republican Attorney General of Texas, Senate candidate
Election Day for the 2026 midterm election took place on November 3, 2026. Polling locations were open statewide from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters who entered the line before closing time were allowed to vote. Races on the ballot included governor, attorney general, Texas Senate, and railroad commissioner.
Harris County voters, voters casting ballots; Texas voters, voters casting ballots; Harris County Clerk's Office, managing election records and 1 more
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, and James Talarico, state representative, are competing in a close U.S. Senate race for Texas. The race addresses economy, immigration, and Latino voter outreach ahead of Election Day.
Ken Paxton, U.S. Senate candidate, Texas Attorney General; James Talarico, U.S. Senate candidate, state representative; Joshua Blank, research director, Texas Politics Project at University of Texas at Austin
A poll conducted by New York Times/Sienna found Democrat Gina Hinojosa leading Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas governor race as voters prepared for Election Day on Nov. 3. Abbott is seeking a fourth term as governor.
Gina Hinojosa, Democratic candidate for Texas governor; Greg Abbott, Republican incumbent Texas governor seeking fourth term; New York Times/Sienna, Poll conductor
On the eve of Texas elections, Democratic candidate Pooja Sethi challenged Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton to condemn remarks about Indian Americans made by Republican Bo French, the Railroad Commission nominee. Paxton had responded to earlier criticism without naming French, instead criticizing his Democratic opponent James Talarico.
Pooja Sethi, Democratic candidate for Texas House District 47; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General and Republican US Senate nominee; Bo French, Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commission and 2 more
A nationwide nonpartisan initiative called DJs at the Polls is bringing local DJs to more than 200 polling locations across the Houston area on Election Day, November 3, with music aimed at boosting voter turnout. Election Day weather in Eastern Texas is expected to include rain and thunderstorms.
Michael Sanni (DJ GQ Mike), Local DJ participating in DJs at the Polls; Anton Moore, Founder and co-director of DJs at the Polls; DJs at the Polls, Nationwide nonpartisan organization bringing DJs to polling locations