In thiis week's Second Reading podcast, we discuss the dynamics in the Texas Legislature in the wake of the resumption of business in the house now that quorum has been reestablished.
Part of the discussion touched on trends in ideological self-identification and intra-party politics. The data provides context for these dynamics, which seem to be contributing the fragmentation in the legislature, particualrly the house.
Sizable minorities in both parties think their parties are in sufficently ideologically committed.
| category | Democrat | Republican | Tea Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal enough | 40% | 94% | 0% |
| Too liberal | 5% | 5% | 50% |
| Not liberal enough | 36% | 2% | 50% |
| Don't know/No opinion | 18% | 0% | 0% |
| Category | Democrat |
|---|---|
| Liberal enough | 33% |
| Too liberal | 9% |
| Not liberal enough | 38% |
| Don't know/No opinion | 19% |
| Category | Republican |
|---|---|
| Conservative enough | 40% |
| Too conservative | 10% |
| Not conservative enough | 39% |
| Don't know/No opinion | 11% |
The trend data on ideological idenfication in each party shows the established hegemony of conservatives in the GOP since 2008 (when the data set begins), compared to a more recent movement in a liberal direction among Democrats.
| Poll | Liberal | Moderate | Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2008 | 35% | 55% | 10% |
| October 2008 | 44% | 36% | 19% |
| March 2009 | 55% | 30% | 15% |
| June 2009 | 49% | 34% | 17% |
| October 2009 | 41% | 48% | 10% |
| February 2010 | 44% | 45% | 11% |
| May 2010 | 45% | 40% | 15% |
| September 2010 | 52% | 34% | 14% |
| October 2010 | 49% | 34% | 17% |
| February 2011 | 43% | 38% | 19% |
| May 2011 | 45% | 45% | 9% |
| October 2011 | 54% | 36% | 10% |
| February 2012 | 54% | 34% | 13% |
| May 2012 | 38% | 51% | 11% |
| October 2012 | 43% | 45% | 13% |
| February 2013 | 52% | 34% | 14% |
| June 2013 | 53% | 36% | 11% |
| October 2013 | 43% | 43% | 14% |
| February 2014 | 46% | 38% | 16% |
| June 2014 | 47% | 40% | 13% |
| October 2014 | 53% | 36% | 11% |
| February 2015 | 45% | 40% | 15% |
| June 2015 | 48% | 38% | 14% |
| October 2015 | 52% | 37% | 10% |
| February 2016 | 38% | 49% | 13% |
| June 2016 | 44% | 48% | 8% |
| October 2016 | 43% | 47% | 10% |
| February 2017 | 44% | 44% | 11% |
| June 2017 | 65% | 25% | 10% |
| October 2017 | 63% | 27% | 10% |
| February 2018 | 56% | 29% | 14% |
| June 2018 | 64% | 28% | 9% |
| October 2018 | 60% | 28% | 12% |
| February 2019 | 67% | 23% | 10% |
| June 2019 | 65% | 26% | 9% |
| October 2019 | 50% | 33% | 17% |
| February 2020 | 64% | 27% | 9% |
| April 2020 | 62% | 29% | 10% |
| June 2020 | 67% | 27% | 6% |
| October 2020 | 63% | 29% | 8% |
| February 2021 | 65% | 29% | 7% |
| March 2021 | 62% | 31% | 7% |
| April 2021 | 67% | 24% | 9% |
| June 2021 | 62% | 29% | 9% |
| August 2021 | 64% | 29% | 7% |
| October 2021 | 63% | 30% | 6% |
| February 2022 | 59% | 31% | 10% |
| April 2022 | 60% | 34% | 6% |
| June 2022 | 63% | 29% | 8% |
| August 2022 | 62% | 31% | 7% |
| October 2022 | 64% | 29% | 7% |
| February 2023 | 60% | 29% | 11% |
| April 2023 | 63% | 28% | 10% |
| June 2023 | 63% | 30% | 8% |
| August 2023 | 69% | 22% | 9% |
| October 2023 | 63% | 29% | 8% |
| February 2024 | 64% | 26% | 10% |
| April 2024 | 57% | 31% | 12% |
| June 2024 | 62% | 29% | 9% |
| Poll | Liberal | Moderate | Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2008 | 2% | 25% | 73% |
| October 2008 | 2% | 20% | 78% |
| March 2009 | 13% | 16% | 71% |
| June 2009 | 6% | 12% | 82% |
| October 2009 | 1% | 15% | 84% |
| February 2010 | 2% | 9% | 89% |
| May 2010 | 1% | 10% | 89% |
| September 2010 | 0% | 9% | 91% |
| October 2010 | 2% | 8% | 90% |
| February 2011 | 3% | 14% | 84% |
| May 2011 | 2% | 11% | 87% |
| October 2011 | 2% | 11% | 87% |
| February 2012 | 1% | 12% | 86% |
| May 2012 | 1% | 22% | 77% |
| October 2012 | 1% | 23% | 76% |
| February 2013 | 2% | 12% | 87% |
| June 2013 | 1% | 14% | 85% |
| October 2013 | 3% | 20% | 77% |
| February 2014 | 1% | 19% | 79% |
| June 2014 | 2% | 12% | 86% |
| October 2014 | 2% | 13% | 85% |
| February 2015 | 1% | 16% | 83% |
| June 2015 | 4% | 16% | 81% |
| October 2015 | 2% | 14% | 85% |
| February 2016 | 2% | 17% | 82% |
| June 2016 | 1% | 15% | 83% |
| October 2016 | 1% | 18% | 81% |
| February 2017 | 3% | 23% | 74% |
| June 2017 | 2% | 11% | 87% |
| October 2017 | 2% | 14% | 83% |
| February 2018 | 4% | 10% | 86% |
| June 2018 | 3% | 13% | 84% |
| October 2018 | 3% | 11% | 85% |
| February 2019 | 4% | 11% | 85% |
| June 2019 | 5% | 13% | 83% |
| October 2019 | 5% | 14% | 81% |
| February 2020 | 2% | 15% | 83% |
| April 2020 | 4% | 13% | 83% |
| June 2020 | 6% | 12% | 82% |
| October 2020 | 5% | 12% | 84% |
| February 2021 | 4% | 15% | 81% |
| March 2021 | 3% | 14% | 83% |
| April 2021 | 3% | 10% | 87% |
| June 2021 | 2% | 15% | 84% |
| August 2021 | 4% | 13% | 84% |
| October 2021 | 2% | 10% | 88% |
| February 2022 | 3% | 12% | 85% |
| April 2022 | 4% | 11% | 84% |
| June 2022 | 4% | 12% | 84% |
| August 2022 | 5% | 13% | 83% |
| October 2022 | 3% | 13% | 84% |
| February 2023 | 3% | 18% | 78% |
| April 2023 | 4% | 16% | 80% |
| June 2023 | 4% | 13% | 83% |
| August 2023 | 3% | 14% | 83% |
| October 2023 | 6% | 19% | 75% |
| February 2024 | 5% | 14% | 81% |
| April 2024 | 6% | 14% | 80% |
| June 2024 | 4% | 16% | 80% |