The results of Collin County’s March primary election provided more than just party nominees for the November ballot. They also revealed shifting voting patterns in one of Texas’ fastest-growing counties. Data from the 2022, 2024 and 2026 primary elections shows several notable trends: overall turnout is increasing, more voters are casting ballots during early voting and the gap between Republican and Democratic participation narrowed significantly this year.

While primary results do not determine the outcome of the November general election, they offer an early look at how the county’s electorate is evolving.

Turnout Reaches Highest Level in Recent Cycles

Nearly 200,000 voters participated in the 2026 primary, with 199,606 ballots cast, according to the county’s unofficial canvass. That figure marks the highest turnout recorded across the past three primary cycles. In comparison, 118,036 voters participated in 2022 and 137,685 voted in 2024. The 2026 election therefore brought more than 60,000 additional voters compared with 2024 and over 80,000 more than in 2022.

Participation also increased when measured as a share of registered voters. Approximately 26% of Collin County’s 760,111 registered voters took part in the 2026 primary. The rise in turnout stands out because primary participation often drops in non-presidential election years. Instead, Collin County saw a substantial increase.

Although the county’s voter registration has grown steadily—from 668,679 registered voters in 2022 to more than 760,000 in 2026—the rate of participation grew even faster. That means the increase was driven not only by population growth but also by a higher percentage of eligible voters taking part.

Early Voting Continues to Dominate

Early voting continued to account for the majority of ballots cast. In 2026, more than 132,000 voters cast ballots before Election Day, representing roughly two-thirds of the total vote. Election Day itself saw just over 63,000 voters. The trend toward early voting has been building for several election cycles. About 61,000 early ballots were cast in 2022, followed by 77,000 in 2024, before climbing significantly in 2026.

Much of the increase in overall turnout this year occurred during the early voting period. Election Day participation also rose compared with previous cycles, but the growth was smaller than the surge seen during early voting.

Democratic Participation Sees Major Increase

The most dramatic shift in the 2026 primary came in the Democratic contest. Democratic turnout jumped from 36,895 voters in 2022 and 36,060 in 2024 to 95,756 ballots in 2026. That increase of nearly 60,000 voters accounted for the majority of the county’s overall turnout growth. Collin County Democratic Party Chair Jeremy Sutka described the turnout as “historic,” noting the size of the party’s primary electorate compared with recent election cycles. Republican participation grew at a slower pace. GOP voters cast 101,625 ballots in 2024 and 103,850 in 2026, representing only a modest increase.

Both parties featured competitive statewide races. Democrats held a high-profile U.S. Senate primary between James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett, while Republicans saw a closely watched contest between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn.

Participation Gap Between Parties Narrows

In both the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, Republicans held a substantial advantage in primary participation in Collin County. In each case, Republican candidates went on to win major races in the November general election. The 2026 primary showed a different pattern. Democratic turnout increased significantly, reducing what had been a more than 65,000-vote gap in 2024 to just over 8,000 ballots this year. While primary participation does not predict the outcome of the general election, the shift suggests both parties may enter the 2026 campaign season with a more balanced electorate than in recent cycles.

Whether that change carries into the much larger November voting population will be a key question as the 2026 election approaches.