Democrats gained momentum Tuesday with increased voter turnout since the last midterm primaries four years ago, while Republicans saw little change in turnout.

More than 20,000 additional ballots were cast for Democratic candidates in the Tarrant County primaries this year than in 2014.

About 10,000 more ballots were cast during early voting for Democratic candidates compared to early voting in 2014.

Tarrant County voters at Tanglewood Elementary shared their thoughts about the importance of voting in local, as well as presidential, elections.

Longtime voters saw a new face on their ballot.

One of the Democratic candidates is Beto O’Rourke, the U.S. Senate hopeful from El Paso who has been actively campaigning and fundraising in Texas with his “Beers with Beto” events.

He received 60.65 percent of the Democratic vote Tuesday and will be challenging the incumbent Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who received 82.6 percent of the Republican vote.

Total early voter turnout for Democratic and Republican candidates rose from 64,267 in 2014 to 80,345 in 2018.

Midterm elections occur in November of the second year of the presidential term, where the U.S. House and one-third of the U.S. Senate will go up for election.

Tuesday’s primaries determined the candidate each party will be putting on the ballot for the midterms this year.

A runoff election in May will determine the candidates who do not receive at least 51 percent of votes in the primary election. This year the Democratic candidates for Texas governor will have a runoff election.

Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez led the charge for Texas governor with more votes than the other eight candidates, but not enough to hold a majority.

The Tarrant County Board of Elections lists all candidates nominated by the Republican and Democratic parties.

–Kayley Ryan contributed to this report.