Texas is witnessing a substantial increase in ballots cast during the early voting period for the primaries, with Democrats outpacing Republicans statewide.
Scott Presler said the figures are “not good” for Republicans.
“We’re getting crushed in Texas, as democrats expand their early voting lead. Pass the SAVE America Act or lose big this November,” he said.
Not good!
We’re getting crushed in Texas, as democrats expand their early voting lead.
Pass the SAVE America Act or lose big this November.
🟦 869,118
🟥 732,144🟦 +136,974 pic.twitter.com/rTTm9M2hsr
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) February 25, 2026
Spectrum News explained further:
Over 750,000 Democrats have voted, which is more than the entire early voter turnout in 2022, and turnout is especially high in the Dallas area.
Over 600,000 Republicans have cast their votes, which is equal to about two-thirds of those who voted early in all of 2022. And along the Rio Grande Valley, turnout appears to be high.
“There’s a group of people that normally vote Republican, a significant number of those are also voting in the Democratic primary this time,” said Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University.
Voters who have not previously voted in a primary but have a previous general election voting history make up the majority of Democratic primary voters so far.
“I think Democratic energy is leading to high turnout on the Democratic side and Republican lethargy is explaining the reduced turnout on the Republican side, because lots of Republicans watch the mass deportation exercise, the ICE raids in Minneapolis and that sort of thing. And say, ah, you know, I’m not there. I’m not quite there. I’m Republican, I support Trump, but I don’t support that,” said Jillson.
In the Republican primary, experienced party voters make up most of the party’s early voters. One Republican says he’s not worried about turnout.
“We see a lot of people show up on the day,” said Andy Hogue with the Travis County Republican Party. “Don’t be a drive-by voter. Cast an informed ballot. Know what you’re voting on.”
“Democrats are outvoting Republicans in early voting for the March 3rd primary. If Texas falls, the nation falls,” Presler previously warned.
Democrats are outvoting Republicans in early voting for the March 3rd primary.
If Texas falls, the nation falls.
🟦 544,894
🟥 440,996+🟦 103,898 pic.twitter.com/E7fVMisfyn
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) February 22, 2026
“Democrats have now cast 1.5x as many ballots as they did during all of 2024 early primary voting,” VoteHub stated.
🚨 Democrats have now cast 1.5x as many ballots as they did during all of 2024 early primary voting.
Current total (change from yesterday):
🔵 869,118 (+114,353) pic.twitter.com/F8d1vu7KHB— VoteHub (@VoteHub) February 25, 2026
“Republicans have cast about 60% of their total 2024 early primary vote, almost exactly in line with their pace at this point that year,” it added.
🚨 Republicans have cast about 60% of their total 2024 early primary vote, almost exactly in line with their pace at this point that year.
Current total (change from yesterday):
🔴 732,144 (+89,463) pic.twitter.com/g2zlTRYNcD— VoteHub (@VoteHub) February 25, 2026
In the closely-watched Texas U.S. Senate Democratic primary, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) maintains a narrow lead against state Rep. James Talarico.
Our Texas U.S. Senate Democratic primary average has been updated with two new polls. Crockett maintains a narrow lead.
🔵 Jasmine Crockett: 45.3%
🔵 James Talarico: 41.1% pic.twitter.com/n1I2z6U9kv— VoteHub (@VoteHub) February 25, 2026
More from The Texas Tribune:
Democratic Party officials are particularly enthused by record-breaking turnout in places like Harris County, the state’s most populous base of Democratic voters, and Tarrant County, the state’s most populous purple county, where Democrat Taylor Rehmet recently won a 14-point victory in the Senate District 9 special election runoff, in a district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
“Tarrant, like Texas, often has the lowest voter participation of any urban county in the United States, so we have a large amount of room to grow that allows us to put up big numbers,” said Allison Campolo, chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. “The fact that Tarrant County voters are waking up day after day and … putting up bigger numbers than Republicans … absolutely leads us into November with a really strong turnout and engagement.”
The competitive primary for U.S. Senate between state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, and the unpopularity of President Donald Trump among Democratic voters could both be driving the Democratic turnout, Engle said.
“We know that primaries are what draw the most enthusiastic voters, but by definition, the most enthusiastic voters are a small group,” Engle said. “What is going to be most telling about this election on the Republican side … is Republican apathy.”
Turnout in the Republican primary may lag behind Democrats, but it is still higher compared to recent midterm elections — and it’s ahead of Republican turnout through the first seven days of the 2020 presidential primary elections, according to Secretary of State data.
