Early voting began in Texas on Monday and polling places in cities such as Houston and El Paso saw long lines and high turnout.

A record 36,000 votes were cast in Harris County, which includes Houston, county clerk Stan Stanart confirmed with the Houston Chronicle, writes the Associated Press.

A supporter for Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), who’s running to unseat incumbent Ted Cruz (R-TX) for U.S. Senate, told the Chronicle that he arrived at a voting location on Sunday.

“This is one of the most important elections of our lifetimes,” said Cody Pogue.

Election officials in El Paso said that over 15,000 votes were cast on Monday, setting a record set during the presidential election in 2016.

O’Rourke was in Houston to greet supporters and to attend six rallies on Monday, per the Chronicle.

“Are y’all ready?” O’Rourke said. “Houston, I love you.”

Cruz got President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to stump for him to increase GOP turnout.

“Now there are a whole bunch of national Democrats that want to turn Texas into California,” Cruz said at a rally on Sunday.

O’Rourke rejected Cruz’s remarks, telling the Chronicle “Who cares about the partisan color of Texas? I could give a damn about what party you are in.”