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)
Data Centers
24%of Texans say they have heard "a lot" in the news about data centers in Texas. (39% say "some," 21% say "not very much," and 16% say "nothing at all" (April 2026)
Latest Analysis
Second Reading: The Governor Makes a Strong Move on Data Centers
Gov. Abbott's strongly worded letter to the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT provides some grist for the 2026 campaign and sends strong signals to the regulatory agency and the legislature. James Henson and Joshua Bank wade in.
Texas Republican Attitudes as the State GOP Rallies in Houston
As the Republican Party of Texas gathers in Houston for its state convention, browse a compilation of Republican attitudes from the Texas Politics Project polling archive.
Second Reading: Both Parties Gear Up for Texas Legislative Races + the Long Shadow of 2018
After a week in which Texas Republicans circled the wagons for legislative elections and national Democrats announced #txlege targets, James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the landscape for legislative races, and compare differences and similarities in public opinion in 2018 and 2026.
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 Video
On Thursday, May 28, 2026, James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, moderated a panel of Texas media observers – Gromer Jeffers, Jr. , of The Dallas Morning News, Brad Johnson of The Texas Bullpen, Mark Jones of Rice University, and Harvey Kronberg of Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report – to discuss the results and implications of the Texas runoff elections as party of the Professional Adovcacy Association of Texas's ongoing webinar series. View the session on the PAAT YouTube channel.
Internships
News Media
In 1978, Texas’ dominant political party fractured. It led to them losing control. Could history be repeating itself?
George Hittner's op-ed compares the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Texas to the 1978 gubernatorial race in which Republican Bill Clements defeated Democrat John Hill, who had beat incumbent Governor Dolph Briscoe in that year's Democratic primary.
Could Democrats win the Senate? Their chances seem to be improving
Aaron Blake looks at states where Democrats could extend their efforts to retake the U.S. Senate, including Texas.
Texas is where Democratic dreams die. Did Trump change that with his Senate pick?
The Los Angeles Times' Mark Z. Barabak looks at the history of Democratic aspirations in Texas and the 2026 U.S. Senate race.
A populist will win the Texas Senate race. The question is, which one?
Rob Brownstein takes a deep dive into the Texas U.S. Senate race through the lense of populist elements in both parties.
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