Texas Democrats Rally Dallas Voters Before Early Voting Ends

Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas for a joint rally by Democratic candidates James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, as early voting neared its end. The event was Talarico’s last major North Texas appearance before Election Day, five days later.

Texas Democrats Press Voters to Deliver a Final-Statewide Push

Texas Democrats made a final push for votes in Dallas on Thursday, with Senate nominee James Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa urging supporters to help their ticket win statewide. Hundreds attended the joint rally at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center as early voting neared its end.

Talarico framed the closing stretch as a contest between working families and wealthy interests, criticizing Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton and highlighting Elon Musk’s spending on the Senate race. Musk has put at least $158 million into the campaign, with most of the money going to independent political committees barred from coordinating directly with Paxton’s campaign. Talarico contrasted that support with his own grassroots fundraising.

Hinojosa focused on public schools, health care and education, attacking Gov. Greg Abbott’s school voucher program. She said she would not implement a state income tax, countering Republican campaign ads that claimed otherwise. She criticized the voucher plan for directing $1 billion from neighborhood public schools to private schools.

The candidates are relying on continued enthusiasm in major urban counties. Dallas County set a record for first-day early voting, while Travis, Bexar and Harris counties also exceeded previous midterm records. Talarico leads Paxton narrowly in most polls, and Hinojosa has gained ground against Abbott in recent weeks. The first early-voting reports are expected on November 3, 2026.

Democrats Make Last-Minute Dallas Appeal as Texas Votes

With early voting nearing its end, Texas Democrats gathered hundreds of supporters in Dallas on Thursday for a final major North Texas rally. Senate nominee James Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa urged voters to carry their ticket across the finish line in the November 3 midterm election.

The rally put the Democrats’ closing arguments on display: Talarico attacked Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton and wealthy donors, while Hinojosa criticized Gov. Greg Abbott’s school voucher program. She said she would not introduce a state income tax, despite Republican ads making that claim, and redirected attention to health care and education.

Talarico singled out Elon Musk, whose spending on the Senate contest has reached at least $158 million, much of it through super PACs that cannot directly coordinate with Paxton’s campaign. He also criticized Paxton over his personal wealth and campaign messaging. Those attacks were central to the candidates’ pitch that the election pits working families against the ultra-wealthy.

Democrats are counting on urban turnout, with Dallas County setting a first-day early-voting record and Travis, Bexar and Harris counties exceeding midterm records. Talarico narrowly leads Paxton in most polls, while Hinojosa has gained ground against Abbott in recent weeks. The first early-voting reports are expected at 7 p.m. on Election Day.