This post updates earlier posts from April and June with results from the August 2021 University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, which adds another round of assessments of Texans’ attitudes about the coronavirus pandemic to the Texas Politics Project polling data archive. The June poll adds to an archive of COVID-related data collected in polls conducted in April, June, and October of 2020, and February and April of 2021.
[Viewing the latest data in the context of the preceding results illustrates [two] clear characteristics of public opinion as the Delta variant surged in August (date were collected August xx-29). First, after months of declining concerns about the spread of the virus, the data reveal marked increases in concern about the spread of the virus as well in worries about the safety of common activities. Yet just as clear is the persistence of the sharp differences between partisans in virtually all such attitudes.
To jump to a section of results, click on the link below. For a look at all of the results from the most recent poll, jump to the latest poll page. All of the polling data, including toplines, crosstabs, data files, code books, and full methodology statements, can be found in the data archive. Click on the table of contents below to jump to a section:
About the polls: Each poll samples 1200 self-identified registered voters in the state of Texas. The data is weighted to the known characteristics of registered voters of Texas from the 2018 Current Population survey and 2014 Pew Religious Landscape Survey. The margin of error of the weighted data for the full sample of registered voters is +/- 2.8 percentage points, with higher margins of error for subgroups. For a full explanation of the poll, see any one of the recent methodology statements available in the data archive.
About the graphics: A link below each graphic leads to a downloadable, shareable, embeddable version of that graphic. Lines can be turned off by clicking on their values in the legends at the bottom of each graphic, which allows for some customization when downloading.
In addition to these items, asked across multiple polls, many other items about the coronavirus pandemic have also been asked in the five polls conducted between April 2020 and April 2021. In addition to all of the polling data available in the data archive, graphical representations of all COVID related results can be found through the polling search.
In each of the surveys, Texas voters were asked to rate their assessment of the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic, their degree of concern about community spread, and their concern about contracting COVID (or someone they know contracting COVID). Click on the table of contents below to jump to a section:
Respondents were asked, "Would you say that the coronavirus/COVID-19 is..." and given the response options "a significant crisis," "a serious problem but not a crisis," "a minor problem," "not a problem at all," and "Don't know/No opinion."
Overall Coronavirus Seriousness Trend
Line chart with 4 lines.
The Margin of Error for this Graphic is +/- 2.89%
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 2 to 66.
Respondents were asked, "What do you think is more important...Trying to help control the spread of the coronavirus, even if it hurts the economy OR Trying to help the economy, even if it hurts efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus?"
Trend in Preference for Controlling the Spread of the Virus Vs. Helping the Economy
Line chart with 2 lines.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 41 to 59.
Trend in Preference for Controlling the Spread of the Virus Vs. Helping the Economy
In each of the surveys, respondents were asked to describe their activity levels during the pandemic, what social distancing practices they are engaging in, and to assess the safety of engaging in a range of activities. Click on the table of contents below to jump to a section:
In the February, April, June, and August 2021 surveys, respondents were asked, "Thinking about how you and your family are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, which of these best describes you these days?" In April, June, and October 2020 polling, respondents were asked, "As you may know, many Americans have been told to stay home if they can because of the coronavirus pandemic. Which of these best describes you these days?"
Behavior Due to Coronavirus Trend
Line chart with 4 lines.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 1 to 63.
Respondents were asked, "Which of the following measures, if any, are you taking in response to the coronavirus/COVID-19?" The specific activities were described thusly: "Staying away from large groups," and "Wearing a mask when in close contact with people outside your household."
Social Distancing Measures Adherence Trend
Line chart with 2 lines.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 42 to 88.
Respondents were asked, "Regardless of the current restrictions in your local area, do you think it would be safe or unsafe for you to..." and then provided a list of activities, including: Go to work; Fly on an airplane; Eat at a restaurant; Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium; Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena; Go to a movie theater; Attend church; Send your child to school; Go grocery shopping; Go to a bar or club; Go to a gym or health club; Stay in a hotel; Go to a shopping mall; and Get a haircut.
Share of Texas Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
August
2021
June
2021
April 2021
February 2021
October 2020
June 2020
Go grocery shopping
83%
89%
86%
78%
80%
72%
Get a haircut
76%
84%
77%
66%
66%
59%
Go to work
73%
83%
74%
65%
64%
55%
Stay in a hotel
72%
79%
74%
62%
62%
50%
Eat at a restaurant
68%
79%
63%
55%
56%
49%
Go to a shopping mall
61%
72%
62%
48%
49%
36%
Attend church
58%
67%
59%
48%
50%
41%
Send your child to school
55%
74%
63%
55%
45%
35%
Fly on an airplane
52%
65%
51%
40%
39%
27%
Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium
51%
65%
51%
40%
41%
30%
Go to a movie theater
51%
59%
49%
38%
37%
27%
Go to a gym or health club
46%
57%
47%
37%
35%
29%
Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena
38%
50%
39%
29%
29%
21%
Go to a bar or club
37%
49%
38%
30%
28%
23%
Share of Texas Republican Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
Among Republicans
August
2021
June
2021
April 2021
February 2021
October 2020
June 2020
Go grocery shopping
94%
93%
93%
88%
93%
84%
Get a haircut
92%
92%
90%
83%
84%
81%
Go to work
88%
93%
88%
84%
83%
77%
Eat at a restaurant
88%
92%
86%
77%
79%
75%
Stay in a hotel
84%
87%
86%
76%
77%
58%
Attend Church
82%
86%
87%
75%
77%
70%
Send your child to school
82%
90%
85%
77%
73%
58%
Go to a shopping mall
82%
85%
82%
70%
71%
55%
Go to a movie theater
71%
75%
72%
60%
56%
43%
Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium
69%
81%
76%
60%
62%
48%
Fly on an airplane
68%
76%
73%
55%
57%
43%
Go to a gym or health club
68%
76%
72%
59%
56%
48%
Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena
61%
70%
65%
48%
49%
35%
Go to a bar or club
60%
69%
63%
51%
46%
38%
Share of Texas Democratic Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
Among Democrats
August
2021
June
2021
April 2021
February 2021
October 2020
June 2020
Go grocery shopping
72%
84%
76%
66%
68%
58%
Stay in a hotel
60%
69%
64%
45%
46%
35%
Get a haircut
59%
76%
65%
49%
47%
34%
Go to work
54%
72%
59%
45%
44%
32%
Eat at a restaurant
44%
63%
40%
29%
30%
21%
Go to a shopping mall
39%
57%
41%
21%
24%
15%
Fly on an airplane
32%
44%
29%
21%
18%
9%
Go to a movie theater
29%
41%
22%
14%
17%
10%
Attend church
28%
45%
30%
17%
20%
10%
Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium
28%
47%
25%
17%
17%
10%
Send your child to school
22%
59%
43%
31%
14%
9%
Go to a gym or health club
21%
34%
21%
12%
12%
9%
Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena
10%
27%
11%
7%
8%
5%
Go to a bar or club
11%
26%
11%
7%
8%
6%
Share of White Texas Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
Among White Voters
August
2021
June
2021
April 2021
February 2021
October 2020
June 2020
Go grocery shopping
88%
95%
91%
82%
85%
75%
Get a haircut
84%
91%
86%
73%
74%
65%
Stay in a hotel
80%
87%
82%
68%
69%
56%
Go to work
79%
90%
81%
71%
71%
62%
Eat at a restaurant
76%
88%
73%
62%
64%
54%
Go to a shopping mall
68%
82%
68%
53%
55%
40%
Send your child to school
64%
83%
75%
64%
55%
42%
Attend church
64%
75%
67%
53%
57%
48%
Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium
60%
75%
62%
45%
49%
34%
Fly on an airplane
59%
71%
59%
44%
45%
30%
Go to a movie theater
58%
68%
57%
41%
41%
34%
Go to a gym or health club
54%
68%
55%
42%
41%
34%
Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena
46%
59%
48%
32%
34%
26%
Go to a bar or club
45%
58%
46%
35%
32%
25%
Share of Black Texas Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
Among Black Voters
August
2021
June
2021
April 2021
February 2021
October 2020
June 2020
Go grocery shopping
74%
83%
75%
70%
72%
70%
Go to work
55%
66%
62%
52%
51%
42%
Get a haircut
54%
69%
63%
48%
48%
41%
Stay in a hotel
52%
61%
59%
49%
45%
43%
Go to a shopping mall
47%
60%
56%
38%
39%
34%
Eat at a restaurant
46%
59%
39%
33%
36%
36%
Attend church
37%
55%
43%
35%
33%
27%
Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium
33%
46%
35%
33%
29%
18%
Fly on an airplane
31%
42%
35%
33%
33%
23%
Send your child to school
30%
54%
40%
39%
27%
23%
Go to a movie theater
30%
38%
29%
29%
30%
27%
Go to a gym or health club
26%
40%
36%
26%
25%
25%
Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena
20%
35%
23%
19%
21%
14%
Go to a bar or club
18%
30%
18%
21%
25%
20%
Share of Hispanic Texas Voters who Say Each of the Following Activities is Safe
(University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polling)
Among Hispanic Voters
August
2021
June
2021
April 2021
February 2021
October 2020
June 2020
Go grocery shopping
76%
77%
73%
73%
74%
61%
Get a haircut
67%
75%
62%
58%
56%
54%
Go to work
65%
76%
61%
57%
53%
47%
Stay in a hotel
61%
69%
60%
52%
52%
40%
Eat at a restaurant
58%
67%
53%
49%
48%
41%
Go to a shopping mall
53%
59%
50%
40%
37%
30%
Attend church
52%
55%
47%
41%
40%
32%
Go to a movie theater
46%
50%
39%
33%
30%
19%
Fly on an airplane
44%
46%
40%
33%
24%
22%
Send your child to school
43%
65%
43%
45%
28%
24%
Attend a sporting event or concert at an outdoor stadium
38%
50%
36%
31%
29%
24%
Go to a gym or health club
37%
41%
31%
28%
23%
20%
Go to a bar or club
28%
37%
30%
18%
16%
18%
Attend a sporting event or concert in an indoor arena
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