Candidates step up campaign efforts in North Texas ahead of midterm elections

DALLAS - For an incumbent Republican in a deeply red state, Sen. Ted Cruz is having to work overtime to win a second term.

Cruz will return to North Texas Wednesday to urge fellow Republicans to vote. His “Cruz for Victory” tour bus will stop for a free event at 9:30 a.m. at Gilly’s in Dallas.

Then on Thursday, Cruz will campaign in Arlington. He will be joined by the other Republican Senator from Texas, John Cornyn. On Tuesday, he visited the Central Texas cities of Georgetown and Killeen.

Sen. Cruz’s Democratic challenger, Congressman Beto O’Rourke, spoke to voters Tuesday night in San Antonio. He was joined by fellow Congressman Joaquin Castro.

O’Rourke will campaign in Austin and Round Rock Wednesday. He will be in East Texas and Midlothian, south of Dallas, on Thursday. On Friday, he campaigns in Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie and Dallas.

Gov. Greg Abbott, who appears poised to win his re-election against former Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez, is campaigning for fellow Republicans.

Abbott was in Irving Tuesday with other candidates including State Sen. Don Huffines for a “Get Out the Vote” event. They were supporting Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson and others.

“We need you to ensure that Texas remains the freest, the strongest and the reddest state in America,” Abbott said.

Abbott leads Valdez comfortably in statewide polls but some of his fellow Republicans are facing serious challenges from Democrats.

All of the campaigning seems to be working, though. Voters set another record for the second day of early voting in North Texas.

The number of voters in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties Tuesday surpassed the amount of people who voted on the second day of early voting for the presidential election two years ago.

Around 149,000 people voted in person. That’s several hundred more than two years ago. It’s also more than triple the amount from the last midterm election in 2014. Tens of thousands more voters mailed in absentee ballots.

Aside from the big state races, several cities in North Texas have bond issues on the ballot. They include Duncanville, Arlington, Pilot Point, Keller and Rhome.

Most cities are asking for things like parks and street improvements. Others are asking voters to support firefighting and the remodeling of city buildings.

There are charter amendment elections in several cities. Voters in Arlington will decide whether to impose term limits on the mayor and city council. If approved, it would force five council members out within the next few years.

Also, voters in Princeton, Mineral Wells and Aurora will decide on the sale of alcohol.

Election Day is Nov. 6 If you need information before you vote, check out FOX 4's Voter Guide.