Texas' 鈥� and 鈥� as officials shutter businesses and limit some establishment's operations to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. But while Texans' optimism about the state's economy has fallen, they largely support those measures, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
Two-thirds of registered Texas voters agree with decisions by Gov. Greg Abbott and several local officials to suspend nonessential business operations. And more than three-quarters of voters support except for essential activities. The poll's findings come as Abbott says he will soon announce plans to .
Some hardline Republicans have pressured Abbott, who has taken a in responding to the global health crisis, to And Republican Lt. Gov. has suggested that . But after first making that suggestion last month, Patrick has experienced : registered voters over 65 and independents. The poll was conducted before Patrick went on national television this week and said as he advocated for reopening the economy.
鈥淭o the extent that some people are saying Republicans are beating down the doors of their houses... there is no evidence of that in this poll,鈥� said James Henson, co-director of the poll and head of the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not evidence of resisting serious measures.鈥�
Most of the things the Texas and local governments have done to address the pandemic 鈥� like closing schools, prohibiting large gatherings and restricting some 鈥� are favored by strong majorities of registered voters. But there are notable exceptions for and local officials' push to release :
- Establishing additional hospital facilities to meet anticipated needs, 85% approval;
- Closing public schools, 83%;
- Requiring travelers from other cities and/or states with outbreaks to self-quarantine if they come to Texas, 83%;
- Prohibiting the size of gatherings to 10 people or less, 80%;
- Requiring Texans to stay at home except for essential activities, 77%;
- Restricting in-person religious services of more than 10 people, 74%;
- Closing state parks and recreational facilities, 68%;
- Suspending the operation of businesses determined to be 鈥渘onessential,鈥� 66%;
- Postponing the May 2020 runoff elections, 55%;
- Prohibiting health care providers from performing abortions, 48%;
- Releasing some nonviolent offenders awaiting trial in county jails, 44%.
Voters鈥� assessment of the economy mirrors the downturn caused by the pandemic: only 21% say the national economy is in better shape than it was a year ago, while 64% say things are worse now.
The voters say the same thing, more or less, about the state economy: 22% say it鈥檚 better than it was a year ago, and 54% say it鈥檚 worse. It鈥檚 worth noting that a dramatic came after the poll was closed.
Asked about the economic situations in their own households, 28% of Texans say they are better off economically than they were a year ago; 34% say their finances are about the same, and 35% say things are worse now.
The University of Texas/Texas Tribune internet of 1,200 registered voters was conducted from April 10 to April 19 and has an overall margin of error of +/- 2.83 percentage points. Numbers in charts might not add up to 100% because of rounding.
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