Texas and Southern States Hold High-Stakes Midterm Elections
Voters across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma cast ballots November 3 for federal and state offices amid historic turnout in Texas.
Voters in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma cast ballots on November 3, 2026, for a series of municipal, state, and federal offices. In Texas, the election includes high-profile races for governor and lieutenant governor, as well as a U.S. Senate contest between Ken Paxton and James Talarico. Voters in the state are also deciding on 17 constitutional amendments covering taxes, judicial conduct, and parents' rights, including a proposition requiring voters to be U.S. citizens.
In Houston, a special election is underway to fill the 18th Congressional District seat following the deaths of Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Sylvester Turner, with 16 candidates competing for the position. The Texas Association of County Election Officials reported historic midterm turnout, noting that more than 7.7 million Texans had already cast ballots prior to Election Day.
Across the region, other key contests include the Shreveport mayoral race in Louisiana and gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races in Arkansas and Oklahoma. In Louisiana, voters are also weighing 10 constitutional amendments, including a proposed two-term lifetime limit for governors. To vote in person in Texas, citizens must present one of seven approved forms of photo identification, though supporting documents are permitted for those who cannot reasonably obtain a photo ID.
