Good Tuesday morning, I'm Anna Palmer and welcome to your Politico Playbook Audio Briefing,

sponsored by United Health Group. And I'm Jake Sherman. Something might be happening in the Longhorn

State. Early voting numbers in Texas has GOP political operatives nervous. Democrats outvoted Republicans

in the top 15 counties. By the numbers, 23.7% of Democratic primary voters are new. Only 10.8% of

Republicans were first-time early voters in the primary. The trend line, Republicans are worried

that could translate to a significant increase in Democratic-leaning general election voters across

the state, and in worst case for Republicans Republicans across the country. The Texas Tribune's

Annie Daniels reporting that more than 650,000 Texans voted early in the state's 10 counties

with the highest number of registered voters. Overall, 370,000 Democrats voted early in those 10

counties compared to 282,000 Republicans. Democratic turnout more than doubled from four years ago

when Republican turnout rose less than 15%.

Stephen Shepard and Elena Schneider

break down the five things to watch

in the first primary of 2018.

Number one, Democrats are showing up in droves.

Two, suburban watch.

It's all about Dallas and Houston.

Number three, look for Washington meddling in Democratic primaries.

Number four, the personality primaries.

And number five, a name we all know well, a threat to the Bush name.

Heading to South by Southwest, join us for a fun conversation with California

Democrat, Annette Berrigan, Texas Republican Will Hurd, and Alabama Democrat Terry Sewell, three young

...