Current Events > Texas voters overwhelmingly support business shutdowns

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/26/texas-reopening-coronavirus-poll/

Texas' economy is taking a catastrophic hit and hundreds of thousands of Texans are out of work as officials shutter businesses and limit some establishment's operations to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. But while Texans' optimism about the state's economy has fallen, they largely support those measures, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

Two-thirds of registered Texas voters agree with decisions by Gov. Greg Abbott and several local officials to suspend nonessential business operations. And more than three-quarters of voters support orders to stay home except for essential activities. The poll's findings come as Abbott says he will soon announce plans to reopen a wide range of Texas businesses.

Some hardline Republicans have pressured Abbott, who has taken a middle-ground approach in responding to the global health crisis, to relax his statewide stay-at-home order. And Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has suggested that saving the economy was more important than responding to the coronavirus. But after first making that suggestion last month, Patrick has experienced an uptick of disapproval among two groups: registered voters over 65 and independents. The poll was conducted before Patrick went on national television this week and said there are more important things than living" as he advocated for reopening the economy.

To the extent that some people are saying Republicans are beating down the doors of their houses... there is no evidence of that in this poll, said James Henson, co-director of the poll and head of the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin. Theres not evidence of resisting serious measures.

Most of the things the Texas and local governments have done to address the pandemic like closing schools, prohibiting large gatherings and restricting some in-person religious services are favored by strong majorities of registered voters. But there are notable exceptions for state officials' attempts to ban abortion and local officials' push to release some nonviolent jail inmates:

Establishing additional hospital facilities to meet anticipated needs, 85% approval;
Closing public schools, 83%;
Requiring travelers from other cities and/or states with outbreaks to self-quarantine if they come to Texas, 83%;
Prohibiting the size of gatherings to 10 people or less, 80%;
Requiring Texans to stay at home except for essential activities, 77%;
Restricting in-person religious services of more than 10 people, 74%;
Closing state parks and recreational facilities, 68%;
Suspending the operation of businesses determined to be nonessential, 66%;
Postponing the May 2020 runoff elections, 55%;
Prohibiting health care providers from performing abortions, 48%;
Releasing some nonviolent offenders awaiting trial in county jails, 44%.

Texas!
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Texas isn't nearly as "deep red" as certain groups want you to think.

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Isn't Texas shifting blue?

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Solar_Crimson posted...

Isn't Texas shifting blue?

I think it's more that attitudes towards these measures aren't really as partisan as some would have you believe. Among voters, anyways; elected officials are a different story for the obvious reasons
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Solar_Crimson posted...

Isn't Texas shifting blue?

Has been for years, it's basically toeing the line of swing state territory at this point. Only thing really keeping Republicans in control is the rampant cheating, and that can be overcome despite what some circles will try to tell you.

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Solar_Crimson posted...

Isn't Texas shifting blue?

Maybe a little but it's still pretty red

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Is this a poll of ut students

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Antifar posted...

I think it's more that attitudes towards these measures aren't really as partisan as some would have you believe.

Yeah, I live in red state, and everyone is taking it very seriously.

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Sad state of things when people are assuming political affiliations over whether or not you support giving a damn about a pandemic.

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From Texas. The meme that Texas is a red state needs to die, we're nothing like our deep South cousins.

Texas is pretty damn red outside of the major cities. You'll start seeing those "abortion and the gays caused 9/11" style billboards once you get on the Interstate. But due to the population centers and the population of South Texas, it's not as red as the deep south.

I'm glad people aren't being absolute stereotypes in Texas.

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legendary_zell posted...

Texas is pretty damn red outside of the major cities. You'll start seeing those "abortion and the gays caused 9/11" style billboards once you get on the Interstate. But due to the population centers and the population of South Texas, it's not as red as the deep south.

I'm glad people aren't being absolute stereotypes in Texas.

Eh maybe closer to Oklahoma and Louisiana. I live in a smaller Texas city and it's mostly ran by Republican Hispanics(which are more center than right)

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Red states opeining early might just turn those states blue.

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*people polled in this poll

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hyperpowder posted...

Eh maybe closer to Oklahoma and Louisiana. I live in a smaller Texas city and it's mostly ran by Republican Hispanics(which are more center than right)

Definitely in those places, but also between Houston and Austin and Houston and Dallas. And yeah, having some type of reason not to go full Alabama, like being Hispanic, is what keeps us from being Alabama/Mississippi.

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