The Texas Politics Project

National Economy

54%

of Texas voters say that the national economy is performing worse than one year ago (October 2026)

AI and Humanity

52%

of Texas voters say that the expect AI to have a negative impact on humanity (October 2026)

Data Centers

58%

of Texas voters say that they oppose the construction of a data center in their community (October 2026)

Latest Analysis

Latest UT/Texas Politics Poll Finds Historic Levels of Competition in Texas Midterm Elections

The latest University of Texas / Texas Politics Project Poll finds Democratic candidates with narrow advantages within the poll's margin of error among likely voters in most statewide races. Economic concerns remain high and front-of-mind for voters.

Talking 2026 Election Politics in Texas with Ross Ramsey

In a new Second Reading Podcast, Ross Ramsey, co-founder and former Editor of The Texas Tribune, joins James Henson to put the 2026 election campaign in perspective. They discuss the factors making the state more competitive, and how deep the change in Texas politics evident this cycle go.

Texas 2026 U.S. Senate Election Polling Tracker

View non-partisan statewide polls conducted in the U.S. Senate race in Texas. Check back for updates as new polling is released.

Share of Texans Saying an Economic Issue is the Most Important Problem Facing the Country

Trend: Percent of Texans Saying an Economic Issue is the Most Important Problem Facing the Country

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Donald Trump Second Term Job Approval Trend

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Events

October 8 The 2026 Midterms: The Battleground States

On Wednesday, October 8, 2026, at 1:15 PM Central Time, join the Institute of Global Politics for a deep dive into the politics and current trends in key battleground states. Participants in the Zoom webinar include: James Henson, Director of the Texas Politics Project; Jeannette Lee, former Alaska Research Director, Sightline Institute; Robert Shapiro, Wallace S. Sayre Professor of Government, Professor of International and Public Affairs; Vice Dean of Columbia SIPA; and moderator Timothy Naftali, Senior Research Scholar, Columbia SIPA, and CNN contributor. Register using the link in the title above.

Internships

Temporary Organizer

Offered by: Travis County Coordinated Campaign

Field Organizer

Offered by: Hays County Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign

Communications Intern

Offered by: State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer

Government Affairs Intern

Offered by: Atlas Crossing

News Media

In Texas, Talarico Inspires a Recurring Blue-Tinted Dream

The New York Times, Oct 03, 2026

Robert Draper considers "the idea, fantastical to many as it is irresistible to others, that the Democrats will win a statewide race in Texas for the first time in 32 years."