435 seats up for grabs as Texas voters cast ballots

Preliminary results from San Antonio and nearby areas are now available for the November 3 elections. These early numbers offer the first look at voter choices in several high-stakes contests, including the race for the Texas governorship and the selection of the state's next U.S. senator.

Voters in Texas went to the polls to determine who will lead the state for the next four years. The outcome of that contest will set the direction for the state government. In the federal race, citizens are deciding which candidate will occupy one of Texas's two seats in the U.S. Senate for a six-year term.

The election cycle also affects the balance of power in Washington. Across the nation, voters are choosing all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Additionally, 35 seats in the U.S. Senate are on the ballot. The party that wins control of these chambers will manage legislation during the final two years of the current presidential term.

State legislative races are also part of this cycle. Texans are selecting all 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives. Voters are also choosing a portion of the seats in the Texas Senate. These local contests shape the internal governance of the state.

Local elections beyond the statewide and federal races are also being decided today. These contests will impact services and representation for residents in specific districts. The preliminary data reflects the initial counts as the day's voting concludes.

The results will determine the composition of both federal and state legislative bodies. The governing party will hold power for the remainder of the presidential mandate in Washington. In Texas, the new governor and senator will begin their terms following the certification of these results.