Texas reaches record 19 million registered voters

Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden announced that the state has reached a record 19 million registered voters ahead of the November 3 election. Early voting figures indicate high engagement, with more than 2.7 million Texans having cast ballots as of October 23, a figure expected to set a new record.

The state's gubernatorial race features incumbent Republican Greg Abbott seeking a fourth term against Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa. The campaign has become increasingly contentious, with Hinojosa accusing Abbott of using culture wars to distract from issues such as school vouchers and property taxes. Hinojosa has also filed a lawsuit seeking the release of unredacted emails between the governor’s office and Elon Musk.

In the Senate race, Democratic nominee James Talarico is facing significant financial opposition from Elon Musk, who has been active on social media criticizing Talarico.