Texas politics are beginning to rumble, and the loudest tremor may arrive at the ballot box.

On Tuesday, November 3, Texans will choose a U.S. senator, governor, attorney general, all 150 members of the Texas House and a long list of congressional, judicial and county officials. Early voting runs Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 30. The voter-registration deadline is Monday, October 5, and applications for a ballot by mail must be received by Friday, October 23.

Those dates matter because 2026 is shaping up as one of Texas’ most competitive election years in more than three decades. Democrats have not won a statewide Texas election since 1994, while Republicans enter the fall defending offices they have controlled for a generation. That history gives this election its “tectonic” label—but political earthquakes are never caused by polls alone. They happen when voters show up.

The open U.S. Senate contest is drawing national attention. Democratic state Rep. James Talarico faces Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who defeated longtime Sen. John Cornyn in the May 26 Republican runoff. A Fox News survey conducted July 23–27 placed Talarico ahead 51% to 48%, exactly within its three-point margin of error. A newer Texas Southern University survey conducted July 27–30, showed Talarico leading 47% to 45%, also within the margin of error. Translation: nobody should order victory balloons just yet.

A Talarico win would make him the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas since Lloyd Bentsen’s 1988 reelection. A Paxton victory would extend Republican control of the seat and add another statewide win to a record that already includes three successful attorney general campaigns.

The governor’s race is just as closely watched. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking another term against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a civil-rights and labor attorney who previously served as president of the Austin ISD Board of Trustees. Fox News gave Abbott a one-point advantage, while another July survey placed him ahead 45% to 42%. Both results were within their respective margins of error. If elected, Hinojosa would become Texas’ first Latina governor and its third woman governor, following Miriam “Ma” Ferguson and Ann Richards.

For attorney general, Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton faces Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson. A July poll placed Middleton at 39% and Johnson at 38%, with 18% undecided. Texas last elected a Democratic attorney general when Dan Morales won reelection in 1994.

Beyond the statewide marquee, every Texas House seat is on the ballot. Contests across the suburbs, South Texas and major metropolitan counties could influence the Legislature’s direction on public education, property taxes, insurance costs, health care, water and the electric grid. The top-of-ticket races may attract the television cameras, but state representatives write laws that follow Texans into classrooms, businesses, hospitals and monthly household budgets.

The political ground is also shifting closer to home. Harris County voters will choose between Democrat Letitia Plummer and Republican Orlando Sanchez for county judge. In Fort Bend County, Democrat Dexter McCoy faces Republican Daniel Wong. In Brazoria County, Democrat Eugene Howard faces Republican Rob Giesecke. These county executives influence emergency management, public health, roads, budgets and the everyday machinery of local government—proof that the “down-ballot” is often where politics lands closest to the front porch.

Houston Style Magazine encourages every eligible voter—Democrat, Republican, independent or still deciding—to check their registration, compare candidates, study the full ballot and make a voting plan. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and Election Day is not the time to discover your registration still carries an old address.

Texas may be preparing for a political earthquake. But the people—not pundits, parties or polling averages—will determine how far the ground moves.

OFFICIAL VOTER INFORMATION

Texas registration, voting requirements and election information: VoteTexas.gov

Harris County voting locations and sample ballots: HarrisVotes.com

Fort Bend County Elections: Fort Bend County Elections and Voter Registration

Brazoria County Elections: Brazoria County Clerk Elections Department