Early Voting Surges Ahead of 2026 Midterms as Texas Leads a Wave of Grassroots Participation
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More than 28 million Americans have already voted early in the 2026 midterms, with Texas leading the count and turnout far above 2022. The numbers show an older, whiter, and more established electorate, while both parties are aggressively trying to shape the outcome before Election Day.
The University of Florida Election Lab reports that over 28 million voters have cast ballots early for the 2026 midterm elections, with just a week left until Election Day. Early voting totals are markedly higher than in 2022, driven by strong increases in states such as Texas, where more than 4 million early ballots have been recorded, and Kansas, which has more than doubled its early vote count. The surge reflects a political moment in which campaigns and advocacy groups are pushing voters hard long before Election Day, trying to lock in advantage through turnout and messaging.
Other states with the highest early-vote totals include California (3.1 million), Florida (2.7 million), North Carolina (1.5 million) and Virginia (over 1.1 million). Demographic data from the lab shows that among the 6.9 million early voters with age information, just 4.5 percent are 18-25 years old, while 50.4 percent are 65 or older. Of the 13.7 million voters in states where party registration is known, 45.1 percent are registered Democrats and 30.7 percent are Republicans. The figures suggest an electorate that is heavily shaped by older voters and the party system, even as campaigns claim to be broadening participation.
Race and ethnicity data, available for Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina, indicate that 59.4 percent of early voters are non-Hispanic White and 28.4 percent are non-Hispanic Black. Gender information shows a slight female majority, with 54 percent female and 44.3 percent male. These patterns underscore how turnout is still filtered through deep structural divides in age, race, and political access.
Both major parties are encouraging early voting. President Trump voted early in Florida on Oct. 24 and has been campaigning in several states, while the Republican National Committee has revived its "Swamp the Vote USA" outreach. The site states:
"President Trump and Republicans won last November by making the election Too Big To Rig and making a plan to vote early. Now, it is up to us to win in 2026 by Swamping the Vote once again."
The Democratic National Committee’s Association of State Democratic Committees launched the "New Battlefield Project" to promote early voting and counter disinformation, and former President Barack Obama has joined the effort with appearances in key battleground states. Democrats are framing the campaign as a defense against misinformation and voter suppression, while Republicans are doubling down on a high-pressure turnout machine designed to keep their coalition mobilized.