The Texas Politics Project
Gas prices
61%of Texas voters say that they are “very concerned” about the price of gas, up 23 points since February (April 2026)
War with Iran
49%of Texas voters disapprove of U.S. military action in Iran, 37% approve (April 2026)
U.S. on the Wrong Track
34%of Texans say that the U.S. is headed in the right direction, 59% say the country is on the wrong track (April 2026)
Latest Analysis
Podcast: Texas GOP Worries About Base Turnout Continue as Immigration Agenda Shifts
In a new Second Reading, James Henson and Joshua Blank join the response to the much-discussed memo from Ragnar Research’s Chris Perkins on signs of sagging participation among Republican primary voters in Texas and make some connections with the shifting politics of immigration and border security in the Texas GOP.
Senate Race Polling Reveals Republican Turnout Challenges – and the Trajectory of the Texas GOP
The main takeaway from hypothetical head-to-heads in the U.S. Senate race in Texas isn’t that Talarico is “ahead” – it’s that voter mobilization may be the main challenge to Republican success in the 2026 general election.
New Podcast: Texas Statewide Races, Views of Donald Trump & Other Election Atmospherics in April Texas Politics Project Polling
In a new Second Reading podcast, James Henson and Josh Blank look at the quasi-normal looking polling on the general election matchups for Texas Governor and Lt. Governor, and assess macrolevel indicators of the political mood in Texas.
Texans’ Attention to Immigration in Decline
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Negative Views of the Direction of the Country Increase
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Events
May 28: PAAT Post Runoff Power Hour
On Thursday March 10, 2026, James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, will moderate a panel of Texas media observers to discuss the results and implications of the Texas runoff elections. The event is hosted by the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas – you'll find more information at their website.
Internships
News Media
Democrats see Senate control within reach — but some big hurdles remain
Theodoric Meyer looks the U.S. Senate map in the the 2026 election and assesses Democratic opportunities and obstacles to retaking the majoring, including an assessment of the Texas race.
What Democrats' wins in local Texas elections mean for the state
Asher Price is back on politics for a beat, with a look at contending interpretations of local election results in Central Texas.
Latino Texans Flocked to Trump. They're Having Second Thoughts
Rob Brownstein reports from South Texas on Latino attitudes about the the 2026 election. ($)
Will James Talarico turn Texas blue? Not so fast — poll trend favors GOP
Bud Kennedy looks below the toplines of the hypothetical U.S. Senate toplines in the April UT/Texas Politics Project Poll to assess partisan competition in Texas.
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