Blog
Second Reading Podcast: Guns & the border take center stage as the Texas Legislature enters its final weeks
In the latest Second Reading Podcast: a look at what the latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll tells us about the suprising movement of a bill that would raise the legal age for purchasing some firearms from 18- to 21 years of age, and Gov. Abbott's latest actions on the US-Mexico border.
The needs of a growing Texas collide with reelection pressures as the Republican-led Legislature struggles to reach consensus
The latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll found a striking degree of aggregate, bi-partisan support for the more fundamental policy proposals that are currently mired in various parts of the legislative process. Texas voters expressed their strongest and most widespread support for legislative action in response to problems that have affected many Texans’ daily lives in recent years: reliable power in their homes and businesses, access to clean water, the safety of students and teachers in Texas schools, and relief from property taxes driven up by steep, consistent growth in real estate values.
Second Reading Podcast: What the new UT/Texas Politics Project Poll tells us about public views of the legislative agenda and the early stages of the 2024 election in Texas
In the latest Second Reading Podcast, the Texas Politics Project polling team gathers to discuss the results of the latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll, and what it tells us about politics and policy in the Texas legislature, as well as a look at Collin Allred's entrance in the 2024 U.S. Senate Race.
New UT/Texas Politics Project Poll: Most Texans look to Republican leaders to resolve differences, deliver on major priorities
The latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll finds large majorities of Texans saying that it’s important for the legislature to improve the reliability of the state’s energy grid and water supply while reducing property taxes – even as disagreements among the state’s Republican leadership about how to accomplish some of these goals, particularly property tax reduction, but also grid reliability, continue to boil over in public.
The poll reveals much less agreement and more partisan division in opinions about what the legislature needs to accomplish, and in response to specific policy proposals, especially on social and cultural issues that continue to roil politics across the nation, including abortion, transgender rights, and education.
Job approval trends for Texas statewide incumbents and other trend data from the Texas Politics Project poll data archive (April 2023 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll update)
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.
Second Reading Podcast: Where Texans go for political news
In the latest Second Reading Podcast, Jim Henson and Josh Blank look at recent University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll results on Texans' news and social media habits, and patterns in their use and attitudes toward different social media platforms.
A Snapshot of Media and Social Media Use Among Texas Voters
In December 2022, we asked which media they used as a source for news in the previous week. Then in February 2023, we followed up with more specific questions about use of different social media platforms, and voters’ views of them. Below, we break down those results, and look into the different media ecosystems of the state’s Republican and Democratic voters.
Second Reading Podcast: Let's talk about uncertainty
In the latest Second Reading Podcast, Jim Henson and Josh Blank discuss the sources of uncertainty in the present stage of a very active legislative session in Texas.
Second Reading Podcast: Budget Day is Coming + other developments in the Texas Legislature
In the latest Second Reading Podcast, Jim Henson and Josh Blank discuss Texas attitudes on spending in advance of the budget bill hitting the floor of the House this week, and consider broader dynamics at work in a couple of recent telling events as the session unfolds.
Seven Observations about Texas Public Opinion on Public Education
With the public education agenda packed during this year’s legislative session, below are some general observations about Texas voters’ attitudes toward and about the state’s public education system from over 10 years of University of Texas Polling.