HOUSTON — With just under a month now until Texans head to the polls, the hotly contested Senate race between Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke is helping break records.
Texas set a new voter registration record of 15.6 million people. That includes 1.6 million new voters since 2014.
"It's never a good prediction from newly registered voter and voting," said KHOU political analyst Bob Stein.
Stein said neither party should read too much into the growth.
"What's important is not those entering, but those exiting the electorate," said Stein.
In other words, older voters are dying and Stein said those voters were typically reliable Republican votes.
"I don't think this campaign will turn on new registrations, it will turn on the older voters who consistently show up," said Stein.
Here in Harris County, 55,000 new voters have registered since March. That's more than any other Texas county. And most of those voters are women.
Steins said those new registrations can be a positive sign for the O'Rourke campaign, but the real test will be getting those people to the polls.
"Turning those voters out requires a big effort," said Stein.
Whoever wins the high profile Senate race will come down to enthusiasm and motivation to vote, and historically it's dissatisfied voters who ultimately make it to the polls.
"Who's more dissatisfied? And right now that's not clear," said Stein.
The voter registration deadline in Texas is Oct. 9. For more information on how to register to vote click here.