Voter turnout in the midterm elections again dropped statewide, with just over 45% of registered voters either casting ballots early or at the polls on Nov. 8. Republican candidates continued to hold a hammerlock on statewide positions, with incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott handily winning a third term over challenger Beto O’ Rourke.
The Texas Standard reported turnout in the state’s largest counties was well below 50% and lower than the record 2018 midterm turnout. Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, said he wasn’t surprised at the relatively low turnout.
“Usually, it’s hard to get Texans to vote in midterm elections. We saw a sizable increase in 2018 and then a big bump in 2020, but it’s starting to look like the 2018 and 2020 numbers were basically an aberration,” he said.
