In this week's Second Reading Podcast, Jim Henson and Josh Blank ponder a question hovering over the transition from the legislative session to the 2022 election in Texas: how far to the right is too far for the Texas GOP?
Some links to context and evidence discussed in the podcast:
Josh Blank compiled more than a decade worth of polling results on abortion in another post this week; the near-prohibition on abortion created by SB 8 has provided a lot of fuel to the "how far is too far" discussion going on in (and about) Texas.
The unlicensed carry law passed by the 87th Legislature, which recently went into effect, is an issue that earns relatively narrow majority support from Republicans but is opposed by a majority of Texas voters over all.
| category | Total |
|---|---|
| Strongly support | 24% |
| Somewhat support | 12% |
| Somewhat oppose | 13% |
| Strongly oppose | 44% |
| Don't know/No opinion | 7% |
| Category | Democrat | Independent | Republican |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly support | 7% | 28% | 39% |
| Somewhat support | 4% | 11% | 20% |
| Somewhat oppose | 8% | 12% | 17% |
| Strongly oppose | 78% | 36% | 17% |
| Don't know/No opinion | 3% | 14% | 7% |
Immigration is one of the areas where the Texas GOP, led by Governor Abbott, seem not to have yet approached the "too far" threshold – which will makes it a good issue for GOP candidates in both primaries and the general election.
| Category | Democrat | Independent | Republican |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly support | 5% | 34% | 67% |
| Somewhat support | 4% | 10% | 13% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 9% | 15% | 10% |
| Somewhat oppose | 5% | 6% | 3% |
| Strongly oppose | 73% | 29% | 4% |
| Don't know/No opinion | 4% | 6% | 2% |