The KTTZ News Team

While many state and federal offices in the midterm were called late Tuesday night, some ballot items in Lubbock County remained unknown until early Wednesday morning. Delays came as the Lubbock County Elections Office dealt with discrepancies that triggered a recount. Now, with those final – but unofficial – results in hand, our Samantha Larned has more on how Lubbock County voters weighed in.

Lubbock County saw record-breaking voter turnout in the 2026 November election, with more than 100,000 total ballots cast. While the results for Lubbock County still have not been announced, statewide and federal offices like governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senator, and many more have confirmed new leadership in Texas. Before those races were officially called, our Gabrielle De La Cruz spoke to voters across Lubbock about what drove their decisions in this election.

Today is Election Day in the 2026 midterm elections. Along with the competitive races for U.S. Senate, governor, and attorney general, Lubbock County voters will be weighing in on their U.S. Congressional representative, and state representatives. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., those in line to vote at 7 p.m. should stay in line and will be allowed to cast their ballot. Meanwhile, Congress is trying to renew a large bill of farm and food legislation after the 2018 version expired in late September. But Harvest Public Media’s Macy Byars reports the bipartisan collaboration needed to pass it has been dwindling over the past decade.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made a campaign stop in Lubbock on Friday, with promises of increasing affordability in the state, but the speech came with concerns about close races against Democrats. Our Brad Burt reports incumbent area representatives echoed Abbott's fears and called on West Texas Republicans to go out and vote. Polls open for Election Day voting tomorrow at 7 a.m.

A federal court in San Antonio has dismissed a lawsuit by three civil rights organizations against the Texas Secretary of State. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports the organizations had sought records related to delays in processing more than half a million Texas voter registration applications. The flesh-eating New World screwworm is spreading across the southern United States, with federal officials now confirming 71 cases since June. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports the fly has now reached Arizona, the most recent cases include four dogs and a cat.

Next week, Lubbock’s Planning and Zoning Commission will be considering a zone change for property under an industrial asphalt batch plant that started operating earlier this year. The plant is located on residential property just south of Erskine Street, on the other side of Northeast Loop 289 from Lubbock’s historic Parkway Cherry Point neighborhood. Residents are concerned about blowing dust from the facility. The public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled for Nov. 6 at 6 p.m., at Citizens Tower at 1314 Avenue K.

Last night, Lubbock was the campaign stop for both Democrats and Republicans looking to win the vote in the Texas Senate race between State Representative James Talarico and Attorney General Ken Paxton — who was joined by President Donald Trump. KTTZ's Samantha Larned reports that Republican representatives and supporters expressed concerns over maintaining control in the state, while Talarico stressed his efforts to reach across party lines.

The City of Wolfforth is asking residents to share their thoughts for the development of a new town center. Our Samantha Larned reports the project is meant to integrate civic building, parks, and opportunities for new business and housing. The survey will close on Saturday, Oct. 31. You can find it here. Roads are closed in downtown Lubbock ahead of President Trump’s rally to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Doors at the Civic Center will open for the event at 2:30 p.m. All pedestrian traffic and parking in the area will be stopped this afternoon at 4 p.m. Public safety details from the City of Lubbock and Lubbock Police can be found here. Meanwhile, the Lubbock rally for Paxton’s opponent, Democrat James Talarico, has been relocated to the Fiesta Center at 1902 E Fourth Street.

Día de Muertos or the Day of the Dead is coming up on Nov. 1 and 2 and in observation, Lubbock Public Libraries is bringing back its annual community ofrenda. The ofrenda will be up today through Nov. 6 at the Mahon Public Library. It will also include educational information about Día de Muertos for those who may be new to the celebration. New cases of New World screwworm have been confirmed in West Texas and New Mexico, bringing the nationwide total to 61 since June. Texas wildlife officials confirm the first wildlife infestation of the current outbreak in an elk harvested by a hunter in Pecos County.