By Ahmed Abdelsalam
More than 50.5 million Americans have cast early ballots for the 2026 midterm elections with three days remaining until Election Day, according to University of Florida data analyzed Saturday. The total already exceeds the entire early-vote count from the 2022 midterms by nearly 5 million, signaling heightened voter engagement in contests that will decide control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.
Democrats lead in early turnout where party data exists
In states that track party registration, 10.7 million registered Democrats have voted compared with 7.8 million registered Republicans. The figures reflect party affiliation, not actual vote choices, but polling shows widespread dissatisfaction with Trump's presidency and unusually competitive races in traditionally Republican-leaning states.
Surge in key Senate battlegrounds
Texas has seen more than 7 million early votes, 1.5 million above the 2022 pace. Harris County, which includes Houston, recorded 862,700 early voters by Wednesday versus 564,500 at the same point four years ago. The state hosts a closely watched Senate race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, alongside Governor Greg Abbott's re-election bid against Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
Early voting is also up sharply in other competitive Senate races: 83% in South Carolina, 44% in Maine, 34% in Kansas, and 32% in Michigan. Republicans are defending a 53-47 Senate majority as the battleground map has expanded into states they usually win comfortably.
Economic and foreign policy issues drive turnout
Rising costs for food, gasoline, and other essentials, the Iran war, and concerns over government corruption form the backdrop to the election. Trump, facing deep unpopularity, has campaigned heavily in previously safe Republican states, acknowledging the grind of nearly a month of daily rallies. The midterms will determine the composition of the House and Senate for the remainder of his term.
