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)
U.S. on the Wrong Track
34%of Texans say that the U.S. is headed in the right direction, 59% say the country is on the wrong track (April 2026)
Latest Analysis
Second Reading: Undercurrents in the U.S. Senate Race in Texas and Other Reveals in the Latest Texas Politics Project Poll
In a new podcast episode, James Henson and Joshua Blank look at highlights from the just-released UT/Texas Politics Project poll, including resurgent concerns about prices and the economy, the sharp partisan differences fueling overall opposition to the U.S. war with Iran, and some interesting underlying numbers in the U.S. Senate race and the Cornyn/Paxton/Talarico triangle
April Polling: War and surging gas prices fuel another negative turn in Texans’ views of the economy
The April University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll finds Texans feeling the pain from a sharp rise in gas prices fueled by war in the Middle East, with 61% of Texas voters “very concerned” about the price of gasoline and energy amidst renewed worries about the economy and prices overall.
Second Reading: Gov. Abbott Squeezes the Cities, National Groups Spend on Texas Congressional Races, and the Texas Lyceum Poll
In this week's podcast, James Henson and Joshua Blank check in on Gov. Abbott’s pressure on Houston, Dallas, and Austin to change immigration enforcement politics and planned spending by both parties on Texas Congressional races, then go deep on the Texas Lyceum Poll’s look at Texans’ views of the quality of life in Texas.
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
On Thursday March 10, 2026, James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, will moderate a panel of Texas media observers to discuss the results and implications of the Texas runoff elections. The event is hosted by the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas – you'll find more information at their website.
Internships
News Media
Will James Talarico turn Texas blue? Not so fast — poll trend favors GOP
Bud Kennedy looks below the toplines of the hypothetical U.S. Senate toplines in the April UT/Texas Politics Project Poll to assess partisan competition in Texas.
There's a huge gap in spending in Texas' U.S. Senate race. Here's what the data shows.
Heart political reporter Bayliss Wagner looks at spending in the U.S.Senate race in Texas, with some public opinion context.
Latest poll shows Texans concerned with gas prices as war in Iran continues
Will Dupree and Anthony Torres look at key findings in the April 2026 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll.
Talarico leads Cornyn and Paxton in UT poll
Reporting for Axios Austin, Asher Price looks at U.S. Senate results in the April Texas Politics Project Poll.
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