Blogs: Texas Politics Project

James Henson and Joshua Blank talk about the ins and outs of all the polling data being generated in the Texas 2026 election, how to read it, and what it’s telling us so far.

With yet more statewide polling released this week, James Henson and Josh Blank look at the knowns and unknowns in the Texas election environment.

The latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll found very mixed expectations among Texas voters about the expected impact of data centers in different domains. James Henson and Joshua Blank discuss the results, and look at how messaging from a pro-data center group, and from Gov. Abbott, align with the perceived trade-offs revealed in the latest data.

Check back for updates on all non-partisan polling of the U.S. Senate race race between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state representative James Talarico.

Check back for updates on all non-partisan polling of the Gubernatorial race race between incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic state representative Gina Hinojosa.

This page compiles graphics for trends in job approval ratings of the current statewide incumbents (Governor, Lt. Governor, U.S. Senators) that Texans rate on every poll. Bookmark the page for easy reference – we’ve also added similar graphics for trends in Texans’ assessment of conditions in Texas and the U.S., and some archival results for comparison with leaders no longer in office.

In a new Second Reading podcast, James Henson and Joshua Blank look at Texas public opinion related to some of the big Supreme Court decisions this week, and have a ranging discussion about signs of the emergence of stronger, if more polarized political parties. They also touch on news of Kelly Hancock's imminent departure as Acting Comptroller and the politics of the governor's appointment of the Republican candidate for the office, former state senator Don Huffines.

As the Texas Democratic Party holds their state convention in Corpus Christi this weekend, review public opinion data from the Texas Politics Project polling archive to provide some context for the gathering.

James Henson and Joshua Blank look at 2026 Texas trial ballots and the strikingly negative views of data centers and AI in the June Texas Politics Project Poll.

While it's really not so sudden, James Henson and Joshua Blank sort through the policy and political dimensions of Gov. Abbott's signaling and the short and long term implications of the Governor's attempt to lead on the issue