Public opinion data points and other context for Greg Abbott’s 2023 State of the State address
Greg Abbott will deliver the fifth State of the State address from San Marcos Thursday, February 16th, presenting the opportunity to direct public attention to his agenda and to send signals to the Legislature and other state leaders about his legislative priorities. The strongest indication of those priorities will be the subjects he designates as emergency items, which would exempt legislation so designated from the constitutional provision that prohibits both houses from passing bills during the first 60 days of the regular session.
Handicapping just what items will go on the priority list is an exercise in somewhat educated guessing, but the combination of the themes the governor campaigned on when defeating Beto O’Rourke in the 2022 election and the signals he has sent give us some pretty clear indications of what issues are in the pool of candidates. In his victory speech the night of the election, he gave pride of place to the issue du jour this session, property tax relief, as well as the “fight against Joe Biden’s war against oil and gas,” and a warning that “our schools are for education, not for indoctrination,” as well as dark warnings about crime and the border. Expect all of these to make marquee appearances in the SOTS, and some if not all to be translated into items on the emergency list in some form, given both his earlier promises and the content of Lt. Governor Patrick’s recently released priority bills for the session. (In 2021, in the midst of the pandemic and shortly after Donald Trump’s loss to Joe Biden, Gov. Abbott declared five emergency items: expanding broadband internet access, punishing local governments that “defund the police,” changing the bail system, ensuring “election integrity,” and civil liability protections for businesses that were open during the pandemic.)
In anticipation of the Governor’s address, we’ve compiled public opinion data that provides context, such as views of the governor, general views of the state and economy, and issues on attitudes likely to appear in the speech.
Table of Contents
Different views of Gov. Abbott job approval ratings from December 2022
Gov. Abbott job approval trend
Gov. Abbott issue approvals prior to 2022 election (October 2022 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll)
Reason for supporting Greg Abbott over Beto O’Rourke on eve of 2022 election
Most important problem facing Texas
Direction of the state
"Compared to a year ago, would you say that the Texas economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
Personal economic conditions
Some key issues
Border spending
Private money/public school
Abortion
Guns
Different views of Gov. Abbott job approval ratings from December 2022
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Gov. Abbott job approval trend
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Gov. Abbott issue approvals prior to 2022 election (October 2022 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll)
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Reason for supporting Greg Abbott over Beto O’Rourke on eve of 2022 election
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Most important problem facing Texas
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Direction of the state
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"Compared to a year ago, would you say that the Texas economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
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Personal economic conditions
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Key issues: Border spending
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Key issues: Private money/public school
Respondents were asked, "Please tell us whether you would support or oppose the following proposal: Redirecting state tax revenue to help parents pay for some of the cost of sending their children to private or parochial schools."
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Key issues: Abortion
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Key issues: guns
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