Dallas County votes on new Texas map, tight House race

Voters in Dallas County are heading to polling places across the region on Tuesday, November 3, to cast ballots in the 2026 midterm election. Polls in Texas are open from 7 a.m. To 7 p.m. Local time. The state is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones, but most of Dallas County, including Dallas, Arlington, Plano, Irving, Garland, and Grand Prairie, observes Central Time. Residents can find their specific polling place by visiting vote.gov or checking with the state election office.

The ballot for Texas voters includes a race for the U.S. Senate, which is an open seat because incumbent Republican John Cornyn did not win the primary runoff. The Associated Press notes that Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing Democrat James Talarico in this contest. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton over Cornyn during the primary. The race is part of a statewide decision on who will represent Texas in the upper chamber of Congress for the next six years.

Governor Greg Abbott is also on the ballot, seeking reelection as the incumbent Republican. The AP describes the Texas governor’s race as competitive. Voters in the county are also choosing representatives for every U.S. House seat in the state. This is significant because Texas is one of seven states using new congressional maps following mid-decade redistricting. These new boundaries are central to the national fight for control of the House of Representatives.

Nationally, all 435 seats in the U.S. House are up for election. Republicans currently hold 218 seats and Democrats hold 214, with one independent seat and vacancies. Democrats need a net gain of three districts to secure a majority, while Republicans can afford to lose no more than two seats. 46 battleground districts are identified, with 25 currently held by Democrats and 21 by Republicans. The outcome in these districts will determine which party controls the chamber for the final two years of President Trump's second term.

The Associated Press describes the election as a referendum on the president's second term, with many voters expressing frustration over high prices and an unpopular war with Iran. A poll by AP-NORC indicates that 35 percent of U.S. Adults approve of Trump's job performance, while only 25 percent approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in 10 adults say the country is heading in the wrong direction. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states.

In the Senate, 35 of the 100 seats are on the ballot. Democrats hold 45 seats and Republicans hold 53, with two independents who caucus with Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate. The AP notes that Kansas has become central to the fight for Senate control, despite being a reliably Republican state. In that state, Trump held a rally in Salina on Sunday, telling supporters, "I really want you to pretend I'm on the ballot."

Republicans are bracing for the possibility of losing the House and are fighting to hold the Senate. Democrats are described as cautiously optimistic. If Democrats win even one chamber, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings are likely. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who would be the first Black speaker if Democrats take the House, has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight.

Election administration has faced recent legal challenges. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting. Another judge ordered the administration to stop demanding that California election officials segregate ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens. The U.S. Postal Service has added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time.

The 2026 elections are likely to be the most expensive in history. The Associated Press notes that Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, aided by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. Analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts that Trump won in 2024.

For voters in Dallas County, the decision today extends beyond federal offices. The ballot includes state and local offices, measures, and school board elections that vary by county. The outcome of these races will shape local governance in cities like Grand Prairie and Irving. As polls close, the nation will look to the 46 battleground districts to see if the three-seat margin in the House shifts to the Democrats or remains with the Republicans.