With early voting complete, more than 41,000 Fort Bend County voters have already cast ballots ahead of Tuesday’s primary runoff election, signaling turnout that is stronger than the last two runoff cycles.
According to unofficial county totals, Republicans accounted for 23,701 early votes, while Democrats cast 17,633 ballots, for a combined early voting turnout of 41,334 voters.
Out of Fort Bend County’s 568,331 registered voters, early turnout currently stands at 7.27%.
That figure outpaces the county’s 2024 primary runoff, which saw turnout collapse to roughly 1.55%, and is already approaching 2022’s final runoff turnout of 7.82% and ahead of 2018’s 5.43%.
2020’s runoff turnout was an anomaly, due to COVID-19 the election was held in July and 17.54% of registered voters showed up.
Turnout in May runoff elections is often shaped by the type of races appearing on the ballot. Statewide contests can significantly increase participation, while ballots limited to local or lower-profile races typically produce lower turnout.
Differences between Democratic and Republican runoff participation can also reflect which party has the more competitive or higher-profile contest.
2024’s abysmal 1.55% May runoff turnout makes sense when you see that neither Republican or Democrat ballots had statewide races. Democrats had three races: Precinct 3 Constable, FBCDP County Chair, and a judge seat in the 387th. Roughly 6,000 voters cast ballots. Republicans had no statewide races, only a US representative and state representative race and roughly 2,000 ballots were cast.
The stronger early voting numbers this year suggest voters are more engaged than they were in recent runoff cycles. Republicans currently lead Democrats in early voting by roughly 6,000 ballots. The closely watched U.S. Senate runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton and the Chip Roy and Mayes Middleton runoff for Texas Attorney General may be contributing to the uptick. Paxton, Roy and Middleton have been campaigning in Fort Bend several times since the primary.
Polls open Tuesday across Fort Bend County for the final day of voting.