Live blog: Texas midterm election day 2022

Texans head to the polls today to cast their votes in the 2022 midterm election. Please check back for Politifrog’s ongoing coverage throughout the day and night.

11:00 p.m.: Stacey Abrams concedes to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp

9:58 p.m.: AP projects Abbott victory

With 63% of the vote in, the Associated Press is projecting that Abbott will be elected to a third term.

9:00 p.m.: Abbott leading over O’Rourke

8:00 p.m.: Early returns

7:00 p.m.: Update from Southwest Subcourthouse

6:30 p.m.: Update from Southwest Subcourthouse

6 p.m.: One hour left until polls close. Follow Politifrog’s ongoing coverage for updates

3:00 p.m.: TCU alum, students vote at local school

Reporting by Matt Salotti

Outside of McLean Sixth Grade Center, near TCU’s campus, one TCU alumnus said that he based his vote on which candidate he thought would be best for stabilizing the economy.

“I look for someone who can strengthen our borders and our economy,” the alum said. He also said that he votes every year and feels that there has been more pressure to vote this year than in years past.

A local business man and TCU alum said he votes for candidates who share the qualities of a businessman. He said he feels no pressure to vote, which he does every year. “I am actually the one that pressures everyone else to vote,” he said. 

One TCU student said several issues are important to her for this election. First, property and energy taxes are rising. Second, she believes that Texas needs to get rid of its abortion ban due to the high maternal mortality rate. She also said an important issue to her was gun control, and how there needs to be some regulation. She cited the Uvalde shooting as the main reason for her concern.

School’s out for voting

Reporting by Micah Pearce

Students were not in class for Election Day. Fort Worth ISD made it a student holiday and professional development day for faculty and staff. 

McLean Sixth Grade school is one of the schools that was turned into a voting location for the day. 

Larry and Beverly Barnes have been voting at McLean for eight years, but this year is the first time that students haven’t been there. 

“I don’t know why the students couldn’t be there,” said Beverly Barnes. “I didn’t even know [the school] was closed.”

However, with school pick-up and drop-off, the traffic would fill up the small streets of the neighborhood where the school is located.

“If you come when it’s about ready for them to get out, there will be a line of cars down to the ACE [Hardware], you can’t even get in and out,” said Beverly Barnes.

It’s a problem the Barneses don’t have to worry about.

“We just don’t come at that time because we’re retired,” said Larry Barnes. 

“But people that work would have to come right when all of that is going on,” said Beverly Barnes. 

Less traffic has made it more convenient for those driving to the polls, but the location of McLean also accommodates pedestrian traffic.

Asher Georges just moved to the area. He said voting locations were hard to come by where he used to live. 

“I used to live in an area where it was hard because you could only vote on election days, so there was no early voting,” said Georges. 

He made the short walk to the school to vote. “I was very ecstatic to see there was a place near me,” said Georges. 

McLean will remain open until 7 p.m. and classes will resume as usual on Wednesday. 

If voters are in line before 7 p.m., they will be allowed to vote.

2:00 p.m.: Voters discuss their views on the governor’s race

Reporting by Breana Adams

There are an estimated 260 offices up for election in the 2022 midterms in the state of Texas, but the governor’s race has many voters’ attention.

Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, who has been in office since 2015, is running against Democrat candidate Beto O’Rourke, who served as a U.S. Representative from 2013-2019.

Both candidates have expressed their opinions on controversial topics such as abortion and gun laws. 

“I’m hoping the governor is going to be the one that upholds the law and takes care of things,” said Craig Elders, who voted in Tarrant County on Tuesday. 

Maura Teer, a sophomore accounting major, said she is very passionate about who she wants to be the governor because he “makes a lot of decisions.”

“That’s why I came out here and voted,” Teer said.  

But some voters said every race is important to them.

“All races are important because every level affects everything else,” said Megan Maxwell, a Tarrant County voter.  “And so I feel like we have a responsibility to know who we’re voting for and what they stand for.”

1:30 p.m.: Texas projected to stay red after today’s election

Reporting by Ella Gonzales

Texas is projected to stay red after today’s election, including in the House. 

Texas’ current governor, Greg Abbott, is re-running for his third term. His campaign has focused on the current economical state of the country. Many older Texans plan to vote for Abbott because of his conservative values. 

“I’m a conservative, and most conservatives would like to see Abbott as governor for longer,” said Roy Thomas who voted on Tuesday. 

Beto O’Rourke is running against the incumbent for the Democratic party. His campaign has focused on gun control in response to the recent Uvalde tragedy and abortion access in Texas following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Some younger Texans are voting for O’Rourke because of the issues he says he would address in office. 

“On a scale from one to ten, ten being the most important, I would say that this election is very close to ten,” said one voter.  

1:15 p.m.: Voting day weather update

Reporting by Dru Kennedy Hawkins

It is 77 degrees with 75% humidity and mostly cloudy conditions.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, patchy fog cleared up, but cloudy conditions are expected to last throughout the rest of the day with wind gusts up to 17 mph. 

Later this evening, it is expected to cool down, so be sure to get out and get in line by 7 p.m. to cast your ballot.

1:00 p.m.: Tarrant County mirrors the state with drops in early voting turnout

Reporting by Sarah Walter

While many TCU students chose to vote early in this year’s midterm elections, early voting numbers in Tarrant County were down from 2018. 

In Texas, early voting begins 17 days before Election Day and ends four days before Election Day, according to the Texas Secretary of State. 

For students registered to vote in Fort Worth, early voting can accommodate their busy schedules. 

“Voting early’s convenient and I feel like you have more opportunities to vote if you can’t go on that day,” said junior nursing major Linda Kim. “I have a really busy day on election day, so it gave me the opportunity to still vote.”

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