The 2026 Texas general election is almost here, bringing plenty of attention to the race for governor and a long list of other races that will help shape the state’s direction for the next several years.
But for all the excitement around a gubernatorial election, turnout in these elections still trails presidential years. In 2022, about 8.1 million Texans voted, representing 45.9% of registered voters. Two years later, more than 11.3 million voted in the 2024 presidential election, or 61.2% of registered voters.
That difference is a reminder that some of the biggest decisions about Texas government are often made by fewer voters than show up when the presidency is on the ballot.
So what should Texas voters know before Nov. 3?
What is a general election?
If the primary is where political parties choose their nominees, the general election is where voters make the final choice among the candidates on the November ballot. Texas voters went through the first stages of that process in the March primaries and May runoffs. Now, every registered voter can participate, regardless of whether they voted in a primary.
What’s on the ballot in Texas in 2026?
The U.S. Senate race may be the headline contest, but it is only one piece of the ballot.
Texans will also vote for 38 U.S. House seats, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner and one Railroad Commission seat. Statewide judicial races are also on the ballot.
Further down, voters will choose 16 state senators and all 150 members of the Texas House, along with State Board of Education members, judges and county officials.
Three things Texas voters sometimes get wrong
1. Your primary vote does not lock you into a party in November.
If you voted in a Republican or Democratic primary this spring, you were limited to that party’s runoff later in the same election cycle. But that restriction does not carry into the general election. In November, you can vote for candidates of any party, race by race.
2. Texas does not have straight-ticket voting.
Texas eliminated straight-ticket voting beginning in 2020. That means there is no longer one box that automatically selects every candidate from the same party. If you want to vote for candidates from one party across the ballot, you must select each candidate individually.
3. Your ballot is based on where you live.
There is no single ballot that every Texas voter sees. Statewide races are the same across Texas, but congressional and legislative districts, judges and local offices vary by address, so it is worth checking your county elections website for a sample ballot. It’s the easiest way to see the races and candidates you can expect to encounter at the polls.
Key dates for the 2026 Texas General Election
Here are the dates to keep on your radar:
- Monday, Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote
- Monday, Oct. 19: Early voting begins
- Friday, Oct. 23: Last day for ballot-by-mail applications to be received
- Friday, Oct. 30: Early voting ends
- Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day
Before voting, take a few minutes to confirm your registration, review your sample ballot and check where and when you can vote. VoteTexas.gov and your county elections office are the best places to start.
Why the general election matters
This election is the final step in a process that began with the March primaries and May runoffs. Now voters will decide who actually holds these offices.
The top of the ticket will get much of the attention, but the ballot goes much deeper. Many of the officials Texans elect this fall will make decisions about the state budget, schools, water, health care, infrastructure, courts and public safety.
Presidential elections may bring more Texans to the polls. But in 2026, the decisions on the ballot are squarely about who will lead Texas, represent its communities and make choices that shape everyday life across the state.
