An eye-opening early vote total: James Talarico with a nearly 10-point lead in traditionally conservative Brazos County, home of Texas A&M University. These early voting results are showing some real surprises, and Republicans are going to need a very strong showing on Election Day to erase these deficits.

Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. He is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended Texas A&M University and has spent his entire...