North Texas is underway with the first day of early voting as Paxton and Talarico ramp up their campaigns, amid a flood of advertising spending that underscores the high-stakes nature of the race.

The campaign dynamic between Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is shaping the narrative, with a focus on campaign financing and efforts to mobilize voters as early voting begins.

Polls show Gina Hinojosa narrowing the gap with Gov. Greg Abbott, indicating tightening dynamics in the governor’s race.

Talarico and Paxton are conducting extended tours across Texas ahead of the November midterm, with Talarico’s ‘Clear Eyes, Full Hearts’ tour and Paxton’s ‘Come and Take It’ tour highlighting their messaging in multiple stops.

The race remains highly competitive and fluid in the final stretch, with each campaign using tour stops and polling data to frame outreach and messaging.

Democratic ads center on health care, corruption, and inflation, while Republican ads emphasize crime, transgender issues, and China.

Republican candidates are expected to continue attacking Democrats as early voting starts, while they aggressively mobilize their base to vote early.

Voters cite rising cost of living as a top issue in polls, with Talarico gaining among consumers facing higher prices, while Paxton benefits from broader Republican turnout and deportation program support.

Polls show a tight race, with Talarico leading Paxton by a narrow margin in some surveys and the overall margin within the polling error, underscoring Democratic enthusiasm’s impact on Texas races.

The Texas Senate race has become one of the most expensive non-presidential contests, with roughly $490 million spent on ads through the primary, runoff, and general election.

CBS News Texas segments and local updates illustrate ongoing reporting on voting, security, weather, and regional incidents as the election unfolds.

In the lead-up to Oct. 19 early voting, ad messaging shifts from persuading undecided voters to mobilizing supporters to vote early.