Trends in data from a year of polling reveal often dramatic differences in Texas attitudes and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic
The April 2021 University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll adds a forth assessment of Texans’ attitudes about the coronavirus pandemic to the Texas Politics Project polling data archive, adding to attitudes collected in batteries from polls conducted in April, June, and October of 2020, and February and April of 2021. The time series allows reporters, researchers, elected leaders, public health officials, and the public a view of how Texans’ concerns about COVID, behaviors during the pandemic, and evaluations of the official responses have changed throughout a year of pandemic conditions in Texas.
We’ve presented the results below with little commentary or analysis to make them immediately available in the midst of continuing decisions by Texans and policy makers about how to adjust to pandemic conditions that are clearly lessening in severity in the state and most of the country, but have just as clearly not subsisted entirely - to say nothing of continuing crises in other parts of the world. For now, the trend graphics provoke mutiple interpretations of how Texans have responded to the pandemic, and suggest that the clear differences in responses to the pandemic among different groups reflect very difffences experiences of the pandemic and its effects. Every picture below tells multiple stories. (We took a first pass some of the results in this week's Second Reading podcast, though there will be much more to come. You can find this and other past episodes and subscribe to the Second Reading podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.)
To jump to a section of results, click on the link below. For a look at all of the results from the most recent poll, jump to the latest poll page. All of the polling data, including toplines, crosstabs, data files, code books, and full methodology statements, can be found in the data archive. Click on the table of contents below to jump to a section:
Concern
Behavior
Evaluations
About the polls: Each poll samples 1200 self-identified registered voters in the state of Texas. The data is weighted to the known characteristics of registered voters of Texas from the 2018 Current Population survey and 2014 Pew Religious Landscape Survey. The margin of error of the weighted data for the full sample of registered voters is +/- 2.8 percentage points, with higher margins of error for subgroups. For a full explanation of the poll, see any one of the recent methodology statements available in the data archive.
About the graphics: A link below each graphic leads to a downloadable, shareable, embeddable version of that graphic. Lines can be turned off by clicking on their values in the legends at the bottom of each graphic, which allows for some customization when downloading.
In addition to these items, asked across multiple polls, many other items about the coronavirus pandemic have also been asked in the five polls conducted between April 2020 and April 2021. In addition to all of the polling data available in the data archive, graphical representations of all COVID related results can be found through the polling search.
Concern
In each of the surveys, Texas voters were asked to rate their assessment of the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic, their degree of concern about community spread, and their concern about contracting COVID (or someone they know contracting COVID). Click on the table of contents below to jump to a section:
Seriousness Assessment
by Party
by Race
Community Spread Concern
Personal Spread Concern
Containing COVID vs. Helping the Economy
Coronavirus Seriousness Assessments
Respondents were asked, "Would you say that the coronavirus/COVID-19 is..." and given the response options "a significant crisis," "a serious problem but not a crisis," "a minor problem," "not a problem at all," and "Don't know/No opinion."
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Coronavirus Seriousness Assessments by Party
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Coronavirus Seriousness Assessments by Race
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Community Spread Concern
Respondents were asked, "How concerned are you about the spread of the coronavirus in your community?"
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Personal Spread Concern
Respondents were asked, "How concerned are you about you or someone you know getting infected with the coronavirus?"
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Containing COVID vs. Helping the Economy
Respondents were asked, "What do you think is more important...Trying to help control the spread of the coronavirus, even if it hurts the economy OR Trying to help the economy, even if it hurts efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus?"
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Behavior
In each of the surveys, respondents were asked to describe their activity levels during the pandemic, what social distancing practices they are engaging in, and to assess the safety of engaging in a range of activities. Click on the table of contents below to jump to a section:
General Behavior
by Party
by Race
Social Distancing
Safety of Different Activities
General Behavior
In the February and April 2021 surveys, Respondents were asked, "Thinking about how you and your family are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, which of these best describes you these days?" In April, June, and October 2020 polling, respondents were asked, "As you may know, many Americans have been told to stay home if they can because of the coronavirus pandemic. Which of these best describes you these days?"
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General Behavior by Party
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General Behavior by Race
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Social Distancing
Respondents were asked, "Which of the following measures, if any, are you taking in response to the coronavirus/COVID-19?" The specific activities were described thusly: "Staying away from large groups," and "Wearing a mask when in close contact with people outside your household."
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Safety of Different Activities
Respondents were asked, "Regardless of the current restrictions in your local area, do you think it would be safe or unsafe for you to..." and then provided a list of activities, including: Go to work; Fly on an airplane; Eat at a restaurant; Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium; Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena; Go to a movie theater; Attend church; Send your child to school; Go grocery shopping; Go to a bar or club; Go to a gym or health club; Stay in a hotel; Go to a shopping mall; and Get a haircut.
Share of Texas Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
| |
April 2021 |
February 2021 |
October 2020 |
June 2020 |
| Go grocery shopping |
86% |
78% |
80% |
72% |
| Get a haircut |
77% |
66% |
66% |
59% |
| Go to work |
74% |
65% |
64% |
55% |
| Stay in a hotel |
74% |
62% |
62% |
50% |
| Eat at a restaurant |
63% |
55% |
56% |
49% |
| Send your child to school |
63% |
55% |
45% |
35% |
| Go to a shopping mall |
62% |
48% |
49% |
36% |
| Attend church |
59% |
48% |
50% |
41% |
| Fly on an airplane |
51% |
40% |
39% |
27% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium |
51% |
40% |
41% |
30% |
| Go to a movie theater |
49% |
38% |
37% |
27% |
| Go to a gym or health club |
47% |
37% |
35% |
29% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena |
39% |
29% |
29% |
21% |
| Go to a bar or club |
38% |
30% |
28% |
23% |
Share of Texas Republican Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
| Among Republicans |
April 2021 |
February 2021 |
October 2020 |
June 2020 |
| Go grocery shopping |
93% |
88% |
93% |
84% |
| Get a haircut |
90% |
83% |
84% |
81% |
| Go to work |
88% |
84% |
83% |
77% |
| Attend Church |
87% |
75% |
77% |
70% |
| Eat at a restaurant |
86% |
77% |
79% |
75% |
| Stay in a hotel |
86% |
76% |
77% |
58% |
| Send your child to school |
85% |
77% |
73% |
58% |
| Go to a shopping mall |
82% |
70% |
71% |
55% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium |
76% |
60% |
62% |
48% |
| Fly on an airplane |
73% |
55% |
57% |
43% |
| Go to a movie theater |
72% |
60% |
56% |
43% |
| Go to a gym or health club |
72% |
59% |
56% |
48% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena |
65% |
48% |
49% |
35% |
| Go to a bar or club |
63% |
51% |
46% |
38% |
Share of Texas Democratic Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
| Among Democrats |
April 2021 |
February 2021 |
October 2020 |
June 2020 |
| Go grocery shopping |
76% |
66% |
68% |
58% |
| Get a haircut |
65% |
49% |
47% |
34% |
| Stay in a hotel |
64% |
45% |
46% |
35% |
| Go to work |
59% |
45% |
44% |
32% |
| Send your child to school |
43% |
31% |
14% |
9% |
| Go to a shopping mall |
41% |
21% |
24% |
15% |
| Eat at a restaurant |
40% |
29% |
30% |
21% |
| Attend church |
30% |
17% |
20% |
10% |
| Fly on an airplane |
29% |
21% |
18% |
9% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium |
25% |
17% |
17% |
10% |
| Go to a movie theater |
22% |
14% |
17% |
10% |
| Go to a gym or health club |
21% |
12% |
12% |
9% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena |
11% |
7% |
8% |
5% |
| Go to a bar or club |
11% |
7% |
8% |
6% |
Share of White Texas Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
| Among White Voters |
April 2021 |
February 2021 |
October 2020 |
June 2020 |
| Go grocery shopping |
91% |
82% |
85% |
75% |
| Get a haircut |
86% |
73% |
74% |
65% |
| Stay in a hotel |
82% |
68% |
69% |
56% |
| Go to work |
81% |
71% |
71% |
62% |
| Send your child to school |
75% |
64% |
55% |
42% |
| Eat at a restaurant |
73% |
62% |
64% |
54% |
| Go to a shopping mall |
68% |
53% |
55% |
40% |
| Attend church |
67% |
53% |
57% |
48% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium |
62% |
45% |
49% |
34% |
| Fly on an airplane |
59% |
44% |
45% |
30% |
| Go to a movie theater |
57% |
41% |
41% |
34% |
| Go to a gym or health club |
55% |
42% |
41% |
34% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena |
48% |
32% |
34% |
26% |
| Go to a bar or club |
46% |
35% |
32% |
25% |
Share of Black Texas Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
| Among Black Voters |
April 2021 |
February 2021 |
October 2020 |
June 2020 |
| Go grocery shopping |
75% |
70% |
72% |
70% |
| Get a haircut |
63% |
48% |
48% |
41% |
| Go to work |
62% |
52% |
51% |
42% |
| Stay in a hotel |
59% |
49% |
45% |
43% |
| Go to a shopping mall |
56% |
38% |
39% |
34% |
| Attend church |
43% |
35% |
33% |
27% |
| Send your child to school |
40% |
39% |
27% |
23% |
| Eat at a restaurant |
39% |
33% |
36% |
36% |
| Go to a gym or health club |
36% |
26% |
25% |
25% |
| Fly on an airplane |
35% |
33% |
33% |
23% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium |
35% |
33% |
29% |
18% |
| Go to a movie theater |
29% |
29% |
30% |
27% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena |
23% |
19% |
21% |
14% |
| Go to a bar or club |
18% |
21% |
25% |
20% |
Share of Hispanic Texas Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
| Among Hispanic Voters |
April 2021 |
February 2021 |
October 2020 |
June 2020 |
| Go grocery shopping |
73% |
73% |
74% |
61% |
| Get a haircut |
62% |
58% |
56% |
54% |
| Go to work |
61% |
57% |
53% |
47% |
| Stay in a hotel |
60% |
52% |
52% |
40% |
| Eat at a restaurant |
53% |
49% |
48% |
41% |
| Go to a shopping mall |
50% |
40% |
37% |
30% |
| Attend church |
47% |
41% |
40% |
32% |
| Send your child to school |
43% |
45% |
28% |
24% |
| Fly on an airplane |
40% |
33% |
24% |
22% |
| Go to a movie theater |
39% |
33% |
30% |
19% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium |
36% |
31% |
29% |
24% |
| Go to a gym or health club |
31% |
28% |
23% |
20% |
| Go to a bar or club |
30% |
18% |
16% |
18% |
| Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena |
27% |
24% |
20% |
12% |
Evaluations
Respondents were asked, "Do you approve or disapprove of how each of the following is handling the coronavirus/COVID-19?"
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