More than 50.5 million Americans have voted early ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, nearly five million more than the total recorded during the 2022 midterms.
asserted
Americans → vote → midterms
The increase comes as both parties face closely contested races that could determine control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.
uncertain
that → come → term
Data from the
University of Florida's Election Lab showed that early voting had surpassed 50.5 million by Saturday morning, ahead of Tuesday's election.
asserted
voting → show → election
Among states that track voters' party affiliations, registered Democrats accounted for 10.7 million early ballots, compared with 7.8 million from registered Republicans.
asserted
Democrats → track → Republicans
These figures reflect the political registration of voters who have cast ballots and do not indicate which candidates they have supported.
asserted
they → reflect → candidates
The higher number of Democratic voters comes as Republicans face competitive contests in states that have traditionally favoured the party.
asserted
that → come → party
Dissatisfaction with Trump's presidency and concerns about the cost of living have also become prominent issues in the campaign.
asserted
Dissatisfaction → become → campaign
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and are seeking to retain control of the chamber.
asserted
Republicans → hold → chamber
Democrats are targeting traditionally Republican-leaning states, including Texas, Alaska and Kansas, where competitive races could help them secure a majority.
uncertain
them → target → majority
Texas has become a major focus of the contest, with more than seven million people having already voted early, as per the University data.
asserted
people → become → data
This is around 1.5 million more than the number recorded in the state during the 2022 midterms.
asserted
This → record → midterms
The increase is also evident in Harris County, which includes Houston.
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which → include → Houston
By Wednesday, 862,700 people had cast early ballots there, compared with 564,500 at the same point in the 2022 election, the Associated Press analysis has found.
asserted
analysis → cast → election
Harris County has consistently backed Democratic candidates in recent elections.
asserted
County → back → elections
In 2024, Kamala Harris defeated Trump in the county by nearly six percentage points in the presidential election.
asserted
Harris → defeat → election
Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred also won the county by roughly 11 percentage points over Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.
asserted
Allred → win → Cruz
This year's Texas Senate contest has drawn national attention, with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton facing Democratic candidate James Talarico.
asserted
Paxton → draw → Talarico
Republican Governor Greg Abbott is also seeking re-election against Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
asserted
Abbott → seek → Hinojosa
Early voting has also increased in other states with competitive Senate races.
asserted
voting → increase → races
South Carolina, which Trump won by nearly 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, has recorded an 83% rise in early voting compared with the 2022 midterms, as per AP analysis.
asserted
Trump → win → analysis
In Kansas, where Republicans face another closely contested Senate race, early voting is up 34%.
asserted
voting → face → race
Maine has recorded a 44% increase, while Michigan has seen a rise of 32%, the AP reported.
asserted
AP → record → %
The midterm elections will determine the composition of the House of Representatives and Senate for the remaining two years of Trump's term.
asserted
elections → determine → term
Rising prices of food, petrol and other essentials, the war involving Iran and concerns about government corruption have featured in the political debate ahead of the vote.
asserted
prices → rise → vote
Trump has held rallies across several states to support Republican candidates, including in areas that have traditionally been considered safe for the party.
asserted
that → hold → party
During his campaign appearances, he has repeatedly commented on candidates' physical appearance and dismissed concerns about rising petrol prices, pointing instead to the profits of fossil fuel companies.
asserted
he → comment → companies
Speaking at a rally in Florida on Friday night, Trump acknowledged the demands of his campaign schedule.
asserted
Trump → speak → schedule
“I thought this was it,” he said.
asserted
he → think → ?
“I thought I could relax.
uncertain
I → think → ?
It’s a lot.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
The Aporia
