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21 million early votes

News · Heat 3.7 / 10 · 3 shows · 12m airtime

The University of Florida's Election Lab reported on October 23, 2026, that almost 21 million people had cast early ballots in the midterms, up about 2 million in a day. Reporting since puts the count above 33 million, roughly 45 percent Democratic and 30 percent Republican where party is reported, and Hispanic turnout at more than double the same day in 2022. The discussion stresses that early numbers do not predict outcomes, and Data Republican is withholding new state early-vote tools from X out of fear of hurting MAGA morale.

How 3 podcasts covered it

  1. Up First, 2026-10-23 (5:39 to 9:01)
    Interviews Michael McDonald on the early-vote surge
    Reports the Election Lab's national early-vote count and interviews Michael McDonald, who says turnout is up over 2018 and 2022 and that Hispanic turnout has more than doubled the same-day 2022 figure. Texas early voting is up 50 percent over 2022.
    New angle: Hispanic turnout has more than doubled compared with the same day in 2022.
  2. The Bulwark Daily, 2026-10-26 (20:28 to 27:04)
    Adds Data Republican withholding state tools
    Works through the national early-vote picture with heavy caveats, then adds two things not yet on the record: the Data Republican account says it is holding back state tools because blunt numbers would hurt MAGA morale, and a Republican data analyst says the black share of early voters is the highest he has measured.
    New angle: Data Republican is withholding new state early-vote tools from X out of fear of hurting MAGA morale.
  3. The Megyn Kelly Show, 2026-10-28 (7:45 to 10:00)
    Updates the early-vote count to 33 million
    Updates the Election Lab count to more than 33 million early ballots, with Democrats at roughly 45 percent and Republicans about 30 percent in party-reporting states. Adds North Carolina's 1.2 million ballots in eight days and Mike Johnson's on-the-record pushback that the polls underestimate Republican enthusiasm.
    New angle: More than 33 million early ballots are in, roughly 45 percent Democratic and 30 percent Republican where party is reported.
Unpacking...