Texas Ted Cruz has jumped out to a lead in the Texas GOP Super Tuesday primary after the release of early voting numbers. Cruz leads Donald Trump by 13 points, 41-28. Marco Rubio is holding a third place position at 18 percent.
UPDATE: 8:01 p.m., Fox News Channel and NBC News have called the election in Texas for Ted Cruz. Cruz was leading by 11 points when the call was made by the two networks.
Texas Republicans came out in record numbers during the two-week early voting period which ended last Friday. A total of 658,208 voters cast their ballots during the past two weeks, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office. The previous two Texas GOP presidential primaries brought out a total of 646,835 Republican voters.
It appears Republicans in Texas are continuing to come out in massive numbers on Election Day. Fox News reported earlier in the day that some polling locations in North Texas were running out of ballots. Reports of long lines also were reported around the Lone Star State.
Breitbart News’ Alex Swoyer tweeted earlier on Tuesday that voters were reporting a two-hour wait in Fort Bend County, just southwest of Houston.
Line down the road in Fulshear, TX. 1.5-2 hour wait @BreitbartNews #TexasPrimary #SuperTuesday pic.twitter.com/dHn5l7LwzO
— Alex Swoyer (@ASwoyer) March 1, 2016
In addition to the race for presidential candidate delegates, all 36 members of the Texas congressional delegation are on the ballot. In many of those seats, incumbents are facing serious challengers.
One interesting thing to watch for in the election results will be what is known as “under votes.” These are people who come out to vote for the top race on the ballot but then do not vote in some or all of the races below.
Just waited about 30 minutes to vote on UT Campus. Line looks like it’s doubled since I got here. 20 booths inside. pic.twitter.com/bJ7PJy5pLx
— MoseBuchele (@MoseBuchele) March 1, 2016
In the 2008 Democrat presidential primary in Texas, massive numbers of Democrats came out to vote for either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Almost 700,000 did not vote in any other race on the ballot, according to Jeff Blalock at Texas Election Source.
The massive turnout could well serve Tea Party candidates who might be coming out to vote for either Cruz or Trump as they tend to draw anti-establishment voters.
Breitbart Texas’ Lana Shadwick will be reporting live from the Cruz Election Watch Party which is being held in Houston at KTRH radio talk show host Michael Berry’s Redneck Country Club. Cruz is expected to celebrate his Texas victory by addressing a packed house of followers in his home town.
Cruz voted earlier on Tuesday. The candidate drew a large crowd of reporters in his home town and used the opportunity to, once again, encourage voters to join him at the polls.
.@tedcruz just voted in Houston #ChooseCruz #SuperTuesday pic.twitter.com/k6mlziwFNk
— Josh Perry (@MrJoshPerry) March 1, 2016
Note: All numbers reported are unofficial results from the Texas Secretary of State website. Numbers are being updated as new early vote numbers become available.
Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. He is also a Life Member of the NRA. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.
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