Bexar County early votes approach 2024 presidential total

Nearly 301,000 early in-person and mail ballots had been counted in Bexar County by Sunday evening. Elections Administrator Michele Carew stated on Monday that this pace suggests the county will likely cast more total votes in this November midterm election than it did in the 2024 presidential election.

The county has registered more than 45,000 new voters since the 2024 general election. In that cycle, approximately 763,000 votes were cast, representing about 59% of the county's 1.3 million registered voters. Current early voting totals are approaching that historical benchmark before Election Day.

Early voting continues through Friday. Polls will reopen on November 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for final in-person voting. Political strategists note that midterm turnout rivaling presidential year levels is rare. They attribute the high numbers to substantial financial investment aimed at influencing local voters.

San Antonio Republican strategist Kelton Morgan described the activity as very unusual. He noted that off-year elections typically see 50% to 55% turnout, while presidential years reach 65% to 70%. Morgan pointed to nearly a billion dollars spent specifically on the U.S. Senate race as a driving factor. He said local Republican candidates should be concerned by the current data, though the primary takeaway is the heavy spending in the market.

Analysts advise caution when interpreting early turnout figures. Texas does not require registered party affiliation. However, voters with a history of participating in Republican primaries have cast fewer early votes than those with a history of voting in Democratic primaries. That gap may close as the election date approaches.

Democratic candidates James Talarico for U.S. Senate and Gina Hinojosa for governor need to secure high turnout in urban counties to compete. Morgan said they are spending heavily in places like San Antonio to drive those numbers. The area also hosts three congressional races that are drawing significant attention. Both parties are actively courting Latino voters, a demographic that supported President Donald Trump in 2024.

Morgan identified San Antonio and South Texas as a primary battleground for Latino votes. He said a lot of money is being invested in various efforts to win over that specific group of voters in the region.