Thousands of people were already camped out at a key early voting location in Houston on Monday morning, hours before voting was even set to begin. Nearly 2,000 people stood in line outside of the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on West Gray near River Oaks in a scene that looked more like a Black Friday shopping morning. BETO IN THE BURBS: O'Rourke touts willingness to serve all Texans in Conroe visit "This is one of the most important elections of our lifetimes," said Cody Pogue, who arrived at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday to make sure he'd be one of the first people to cast a ballot for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke. Just moments later, O'Rourke was across the street firing up his supporters with a bullhorn. "Are y'all ready?" O'Rourke said to a cascade of cheers. "Houston, I love you." Karen Bard, who was in line more than an hour before the polls opened, said she doesn't normally vote in midterms, but O'Rourke changed that. "It's not about me, it's about my kids," Bard said. BRACING FOR THE PRESIDENT: Street closures in Downtown Houston for Trump's appearance O'Rourke has a half-dozen rallies planned all over the Houston area on Monday to start early voting. Those rallies come as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz brings in President Donald Trump for a rally to back his campaign at the 18,000-seat Toyota Center. Trump took to Twitter just as polls were opening in Texas. "Big Night In Texas!!!!" Trump tweeted. On Sunday, Cruz brought in Gov. Greg Abbott for a rally in Houston to boost GOP turnout. Both warned that O'Rourke represents a national Democratic Party trying to turn Texas into a liberal state. "Now there are a whole bunch of national Democrats that want to turn Texas into California," Cruz said calling on his supporters to turn out in big numbers to push back against them. Abbott said despite national Democrats wanting to turn Texas blue, he is convinced Cruz will prevail. VITAL INFORMATION: When, where can I early vote in Houston? Here's everything you need to know "Ted Cruz is going to win because Beto is hostile to Texas values," he said. O'Rourke meanwhile objected to the partisan undertones in Abbott's and Cruz's message. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle on Sunday night in Sugar Land, he said this election isn't about Texas being red or blue. "Who cares about the partisan color of Texas?" O'Rourke said. "I could give a damn about what party you are in."<doc-sep>There will be 46 locations in Harris County available during the early voting period The Early Voting Period for the 2018 midterm election in Texas begins today, October 22, and runs until November 2. Harris County Clerk Stan Stanartis is encouraging voters to visit www.HarrisVotes.com and select "Find your Poll and Ballot" to review their personal sample ballot before heading to the nearest early voting location to vote. Of the contests on the ballot, approximately 15 percent are statewide, 79 percent are countywide and 6 percent are district contests. In all, over 70 percent of the contests appearing on some voters' midterm election ballot are for judicial positions. "In Harris County, during the early voting period, forty-six locations will be in operation countywide for the county's registered voters," said Stanart, who is the chief election official of the county. Additional voting information, a complete early voting schedule, or a list of acceptable forms of identification to vote at the polls is available at www.HarrisVotes.com or by calling the Harris County Clerk's office at 713.755.6965. Subscribe to Today in Houston Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom. Email* First Name Last Name * required<doc-sep>With early voting now underway for the November election, Democrats are hoping to outnumber Republicans across Harris County for the first time in a midterm election since Republicans gained statewide control in the 1990s. Progressive backlash to President Donald Trump has put seats once considered safely red in play, with an added push from a closer-than-anticipated U.S. Senate race between Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke that is expected to reverberate down the ballot. Republicans, running on Trump’s tax cuts, a robust economy and a potentially revved up base over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s contentious confirmation, are looking to maintain their midterm streak in Harris County, putting particular emphasis on local judicial candidates. VOTER GUIDE: Study the issues, hear from the candidates, and research what's on your ballot But in most cases, the topline national trends will only get either party close to the finish line. More nuanced factors, observers say, will ultimately decide the fate of individual competitive races. “Although Trump is altering the environment and stimulating the Democrats, he is not the main thrust of many of these races,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political scientist. “It's an odd twist: Trump has created much of this, but isn't the subject of it.” Voting essentials When and where can I vote early? Oct. 22 - Oct. 26: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 27: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 28: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 29 to Nov. 2: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. What do you need to bring with me? Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS Texas Handgun License issued by DPS United States Military Identification Card containing the person's photograph United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person's photograph United States Passport (book or card) Texas allows voters who do not possess any of the above options to present "supporting forms of ID" after filling out a "reasonable impediment declaration" form at the polling location. Alternative options: - copy or original of a government document that shows the voter's name and an address, including the voter's voter registration certificate; - copy of or original current utility bill; - copy of or original bank statement; - copy of or original government check; - copy of or original paycheck; or - copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter's identity (which may include a foreign birth document). See More Collapse Historically, the incumbent president’s party suffers losses during midterm elections, and national polls have found women in particular are driving favorable polls for Democrats. That trend hit many Texas races during the primary, when female candidates by and large outperformed their male counterparts. For their part, Republicans hope Democratic energy is peaking at the wrong time. Harris County is generally up for grabs during presidential years but has swung reliably red in most midterm elections. For instance, Republicans won straight-ticket voting here in 2014 by about 9 percentage points, while two years earlier Barack Obama won the county by less than one-tenth of a percent. In 2016, however, Hillary Clinton carried Harris by about 12 points. Those predicting a blue wave in Texas point to results like this, while skeptics remind them of Republicans’ historical dominance in midterm years. The result: Texas Republicans simultaneously mock the prospect of a blue wave and prepare for its possible impact. National forces come to bear Since the primaries, candidates from both parties have navigated tricky external factors. While Harris Republicans grapple with how closely to align themselves with Trump, some Democrats running in traditionally conservative districts here have taken positions at odds with the party’s hardline progressive turn. For instance, Todd Litton and Lizzie Fletcher, the Democratic nominees in the 2nd and 7th Congressional Districts, have argued against a single-payer health care system. They have also resisted the push by some in the party to “abolish” Immigration and Customs Enforcement. EARLY VOTING: When, where to cast ballots early in the Houston area That hasn’t stopped their Republican opponents, Dan Crenshaw, and Rep. John Culberson, from painting them as far-left liberals out of step with Texas voters. Culberson’s ads have accused Fletcher of supporting “single-payer” or “government-run health care,” which she called a “lie.” National Republicans and Democrats have done what they can to help without inflaming the other side’s base. Trump has donated to Culberson’s campaign without issuing an endorsement, and Vice President Mike Pence fundraised for him in August. Meanwhile, Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden have endorsed Fletcher. On an August visit to Houston, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi — who has donated to Fletcher and Litton — mentioned the two races as winnable targets, but did not publicly appear with the candidates. Though Trump received low support in pockets of Harris County — like Culberson’s district, which he lost — Republicans are running primarily on his tax cuts and the strength of the national economy. In most contests, Trump himself has not always been an overt topic of conversation. But the topics dominating congressional races tend to connect back to the president one way or another, from health care to tax reform to the family separation crisis. “People are more involved because politics has been put front and center in a way, with Donald Trump and the White House, that it hasn't been for a very long time,” said Harris County Democratic Party Chair Lillie Schechter. “People are talking about it everywhere.” Also hanging over the ballot is Kavanaugh’s divisive confirmation to the Supreme Court. In CBS News’s recent Battleground Tracker poll, 73 percent of Texas Republicans said “the matter surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court” made them “more motivated” to vote this year, compared to 60 percent of Democrats.<doc-sep>Harris County residents on Monday set a new record for the first day of early voting in a midterm election, as 63,188 went to the polls to cast ballots. The turnout smashed the previous mark, set in 2010, by more than 35,000 votes, and came on the same day both major party candidates for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump campaigned in downtown Houston. An additional 52,413 voters have returned mail-in ballots, bringing the total figure to date to 115, 601. 'SNOWFLAKES': Trump supporters poke fun at Democrats Harris County's tally eclipsed the first-day total in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, even though midterms typically draw far fewer voters. Fort Bend and Montgomery counties experienced similar surges. "There are just incredible numbers of turnout today," Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said. "Lines are moving, they're getting to vote, and they're getting on their way." The crowds at the polls signal voters are enthusiastic, said University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus, but which political party benefits remains to be seen. He said an increase in voter turnout usually boosts Democrats, but the early voting surge simply could show that more voters are choosing to avoid the hassles voting on Election Day can bring. "Historically, turnout on the first day tends to be exaggerated," Rottinghaus said. "It's impossible to know which party faithful are voting, or if it's a surge in people who traditionally don't vote." Across urban counties in Texas, residents rushed to vote early. Dallas County reported 42,000 ballots by the afternoon, and Travis County tallied more than 24,000 by 4 p.m. Bexar County had nearly 15,000 cast ballots by 1 p.m. In Harris County, Stanart acknowledged that long lines formed at many of the county's 46 early voting stations, but said his office prepared for higher-than-average turnout by deploying additional voting machines. He said despite the volume, lines moved quickly. The day began in the predawn twilight at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on West Gray, where more 2,000 voters waited for the polls to open at 8 a.m. Many arrived to cheer Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke, who made a campaign stop and spoke to supporters through a bullhorn. In Pasadena around 11:15 a.m., Victoria Montoya waited in line with two-dozen other voters. She said her Mexican-American family has always supported Democrats and said Texas deserves a new senator in O'Rourke. "You can't complain about something and not do anything about it, so that's why I'm out here voting," Montoya said as she pushed her one-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, in a stroller. Behind her, Victor Mesuwan of South Houston admitted he had not cast a ballot since the Bush-Gore presidential contest in 2000. He said O'Rourke was the first candidate he felt he could relate to, and decided to support the El Paso Democrat. In Acres Homes around 1:30 p.m., more than 30 voters stood in line at the polling station. Quentin Henderson, 24, said he was voting for the first time in a midterm election at the encouragement of his mother. Anderson said he wished more young people would vote, and said he has a group chat with friends in which they discuss candidates and issues. He described the first time he cast a ballot, in 2016, as a transformational experience. "The first time I did it, I didn't cry, but it was emotional," Henderson said. At some polling places, lines swelled as the day wore on. Shortly before 3 p.m. in Spring Branch, election workers at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center improvised a way to manage the crowd. A serpentine line of more than 200 voters weaved through the lobby and down corridors before making a loop-de-loop through a kitchen area. Voters at the end joked they had decided to vote early to avoid the Election Day throngs. Retiree Susan Zak said casting a ballot was well worth the wait, as she was eager to support a pay raise for Houston firefighters. A straight-ticket Republican voter, Zak urged the government to stem illegal immigration, and said she was especially concerned about criminals and gang members slipping across the United States-Mexico border. "I'm afraid for my grandchildren," she said. Polls close at 4:30 p.m. in Harris County this week, depriving some residents of the opportunity to vote after work. Other large counties, including Bexar, Travis, Dallas and Tarrant, hold longer voting hours. Stanart, the Harris County clerk, said his office is keeping the same schedule as previous midterm elections, but said his office plans to expand voting in upcoming elections. "In the future, we're going to add new early voting locations," Stanart said. "I can see that need." Thousands of residents also cast early ballots in adjacent counties. At the South Montgomery County Community Center in The Woodlands, voters braved a morning chill. Mary Ellis Johnson, who said she was a strong conservative, said she wants to see U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz re-elected and the Republican Party maintain control of Congress. "We're in danger of losing big," Johnson said. As lunchtime approached on the first day of early voting in Fort Bend County, the parking lot was full at the Missouri City Community Center as people filed inside. James Scott, who has served as a voting clerk for a decade, said more than 150 people stood in line when the doors opened at 8 a.m. He said such heavy turnout was unusual, particularly for a midterm election. Madeleine Howard, 49, was enthusiastic about the turnout as she exited the community center into the brisk October air. Howard, who lives in Richmond, stressed the importance of voting during local elections, noting how that spurs change at the national level. "I just want to feel at home in the country where my sons were born," said Howard. "I have three beautiful black sons. I'm voting for them." A steady stream of voters also were making their way into Stafford City Hall on Monday, Christian Martinez among them. The 24-year-old said he keeps up with politics but noticed a shift in his friends' interest as he texted them about the upcoming election.<doc-sep>
With scores of contested races this year, Texas is at the center of the battle between Democrats and Republicans for control of key local, state and federal races. Voters can start casting ballots today. Here's the FAQ: When can I vote early? Harris County polls are open for early voting for 12 consecutive days ahead of Election Day on Nov. 6. The locations will open and close at different hours depending on the day, including from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the first five days of early voting. Oct. 22-26: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Oct. 27: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Oct. 28: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Oct. 29-Nov. 2: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Where can I vote early? The Harris County Clerk's office is operating 46 early voting locations throughout the county, with polls open every day until Nov. 2. (Or click here to search locations in your area.) What if I wait until Election Day? On Tuesday, Nov. 6, you must vote at the polling location designated for your precinct of residence from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. Click here to find your polling location and voter-specific sample ballot. *** What's on the ballot? County, legislative and congressional seats are up for grabs in this year's Texas general election.Use our Voter Guide to search Houston's eight-county region for your county's ballot and hear candidates' top priorities for Texas. *** What do you need to bring with you? Here are the acceptable forms of voter identification, according to the Harris County Clerk's Office. Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS); current or have expired no more than 4 years Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS; current or have expired no more than 4 years Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS; current or have expired no more than 4 years United States citizenship certificate containing the person's photograph Texas personal identification card issued by DPS; current or have expired no more than 4 years U. S. military identification card containing the person's photograph; current or have expired no more than 4 years United States passport; current or have expired no more than 4 years Certified birth certificate Copy of or original bank statement Copy of or original government check or paycheck Copy of or original current utility bill Copy of or original government document with your name and an address (original required if it contains a photograph) Voters who currently do not have an approved form of photo ID may apply for an Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at no charge with the Department of Public Safety. For more information: Call (512) 424-2600 or click here. *** More voting resources: Fort Bend County Galveston County Montgomery County Brazoria County Chambers County Other counties The League of Women Voters' guide Houston Chronicle endorsements Harris County Democratic Party Harris County Republican Party Search Houston electronic campaign finance reports Campaign finance reports archive (back to 2001) *** Jasper Scherer contributed to this article.