51% Of Texas Voters Say Abbott Doesn't Deserve To Be Reelected, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; President Biden's Approval Numbers Head South
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As Governor Greg Abbott faces reelection in 2022, a slight majority of voters say 51 - 42 percent that he does not deserve to be reelected, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of Texas registered voters released today. In June 2021, voters were split, as 48 percent said he did not deserve to be reelected and 46 percent said he did.
Today, Governor Abbott receives a divided 44 - 47 percent job approval rating, marking the first time Abbott's score is underwater since Quinnipiac University began polling in Texas in April 2018. In today's poll, Republicans approve 83 - 12 percent, independents are divided with 43 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving, and Democrats disapprove 89 - 6 percent.
Texas voters say 50 - 33 percent that they do not think Beto O'Rourke would make a good governor, while 17 percent did not offer an opinion. Voters say 49 - 25 percent that they do not think Matthew McConaughey would make a good governor, while 26 percent did not offer an opinion.
"A lukewarm to downright cool response to an Abbott rerun in Austin, but compared to the high-profile young guns who may have eyes on a possible gubernatorial run, the governor is tall in the saddle," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
Voters were asked about Abbott's handling of four separate issues, and he received one positive score out of the four.
- Handling the economy: 53 percent approve, while 39 percent disapprove;
- Handling the situation at the Mexican border: 43 percent approve, while 46 percent disapprove;
- Handling the response to the coronavirus: 46 percent approve, while 50 percent disapprove;
- Handling the issue of abortion: 37 percent approve, while 53 percent disapprove.
Voters are split on whether Abbott is taking Texas in the right or wrong direction, as 48 percent say that Abbott is taking Texas in the wrong direction and 45 percent say in the right direction.
Voters were also asked if they thought Greg Abbott would make a good president. Two-thirds (67 percent) said no, while 24 percent said yes.
"Despite high marks for his handling of the economy, emotional lightening rod issues like policing the border, containing COVID-19, and legislating the right to choose in Texas are not helping Governor Abbott's standing with the voters," added Malloy.
BIDEN APPROVALS
Voters in Texas give President Joe Biden a negative 32 - 61 percent job approval rating. This marks a 24- point net change from June 2021, when 45 percent of Texas voters approved of the job he was doing and 50 percent disapproved.
On Biden's handling of the response to the coronavirus, voters give him a slightly negative 44 - 49 percent approval rating. This is a substantial drop from June 2021 when they approved 58 - 37 percent.
On Biden's handling of the situation at the Mexican border, voters give him a negative 20 - 71 percent approval rating, which is a drop compared to a negative 29 - 64 percent rating in June 2021.
2020 ELECTION AUDIT
After the recent announcement of an audit of the 2020 election results in four of Texas' largest counties, Texas voters approve 53 - 41 percent of this audit. However, voters also say 51 - 43 percent that they do not believe that there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. When it comes to voting in Texas in general, only 19 percent of voters say it is too easy, while 22 percent say it is too difficult, and 55 percent say it is about right.
SITUATION AT MEXICAN BORDER
Voters approve 57 - 31 percent of the Biden administration's decision to deport Haitian refugees who entered the U.S. illegally. Republicans approve 73 - 22 percent, independents approve 54 - 34 percent, and Democrats are divided with 44 percent approving and 45 percent disapproving.
"The tidal wave of refugees from the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, wracked by the assassination of its president, crushed by yet another devastating earthquake, held captive by murderous gangs and victimized by a COVID surge, no doubt evokes sympathy. But Texans say sending them home was the right choice," added Malloy.
About half of voters (51 percent) support Texas building a wall along the state's border with Mexico, while 44 percent oppose it. The results are largely unchanged from June 2021.
ELECTED OFFICIALS
When it comes to other Texas elected officials, voters gave them mixed or negative job approval ratings.
- Texas State Legislature: 38 percent approve, 50 percent disapprove, with 12 percent not offering an opinion;
- Sen. Ted Cruz: 47 percent approve, 47 percent disapprove, with 6 percent not offering an opinion;
- Sen. John Cornyn: 35 percent approve, 41 percent disapprove, with 24 percent not offering an opinion.
Former President Donald Trump gets a mixed favorability rating from Texas voters, as 43 percent say they have a favorable opinion and 47 percent say they have an unfavorable opinion.
863 Texas registered voters were surveyed from September 24th - 27th with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
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Poll Questions
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Question 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Greg Abbott is handling his job as governor?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 44% 83% 6% 43% 49% 39% 50% 60% Disapprove 47 12 89 47 39 54 46 32 DK/NA 10 6 5 9 12 8 4 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 32% 42% 47% 47% 60% 53% 56% 14% 36% Disapprove 54 47 47 47 33 42 38 64 54 DK/NA 14 11 6 6 7 6 6 22 9 -
Question 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 38% 64% 11% 39% 43% 34% 42% 49% Disapprove 50 24 84 49 46 54 50 40 DK/NA 12 12 5 12 11 13 8 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 38% 36% 40% 33% 55% 40% 46% 19% 34% Disapprove 46 55 51 56 38 48 44 77 51 DK/NA 16 9 9 11 7 12 10 4 16 -
Question 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Cruz is handling his job as United States Senator?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 47% 84% 10% 44% 54% 40% 52% 61% Disapprove 47 13 85 50 38 55 45 32 DK/NA 6 3 5 7 7 5 3 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 39% 42% 50% 51% 65% 53% 58% 16% 41% Disapprove 55 47 47 44 32 42 37 75 52 DK/NA 6 10 2 5 4 6 5 10 6 -
Question 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Cornyn is handling his job as United States Senator?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 35% 64% 13% 33% 42% 30% 43% 43% Disapprove 41 17 68 43 35 46 38 36 DK/NA 24 19 19 23 23 25 18 21 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 25% 32% 39% 45% 48% 40% 43% 16% 34% Disapprove 36 44 45 40 34 39 37 66 35 DK/NA 40 25 16 15 18 21 20 18 31 -
Question 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 32% 3% 83% 25% 26% 38% 36% 17% Disapprove 61 96 13 66 68 55 60 80 DK/NA 6 1 4 8 6 7 3 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 27% 29% 39% 41% 22% 28% 25% 56% 37% Disapprove 67 62 55 57 74 70 72 30 55 DK/NA 6 9 6 2 4 1 3 13 8 -
Question 6. Is your opinion of Donald Trump favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 43% 88% 3% 39% 48% 39% 46% 67% Unfavorable 47 9 91 50 42 53 48 26 Hvn't hrd enough 4 2 6 3 4 5 3 4 REFUSED 5 1 1 8 7 3 3 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 38% 44% 44% 47% 61% 56% 58% 13% 34% Unfavorable 59 43 50 49 34 36 35 73 58 Hvn't hrd enough 2 6 4 3 3 4 3 13 2 REFUSED 1 8 2 2 2 4 3 1 6 -
Question 7. Do you feel that Greg Abbott deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Deserves 42% 80% 8% 39% 49% 36% 47% 58% No/Does not 51 16 89 54 43 57 49 33 DK/NA 7 4 3 7 8 7 4 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Deserves 32% 42% 44% 46% 58% 50% 53% 15% 38% No/Does not 60 53 49 49 35 43 40 79 56 DK/NA 9 5 6 5 7 7 7 6 6 -
Question 8. Do you think Beto O'Rourke would make a good governor, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 33% 6% 81% 26% 25% 41% 32% 20% No 50 84 6 55 61 39 58 64 DK/NA 17 10 12 19 14 20 9 15 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 40% 32% 34% 35% 22% 27% 25% 59% 38% No 42 46 50 53 69 57 62 15 43 DK/NA 18 22 16 11 9 16 13 25 20 -
Question 9. Do you think Matthew McConaughey would make a good governor, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 25% 17% 36% 23% 24% 26% 16% 21% No 49 63 41 49 52 47 63 57 DK/NA 26 20 23 28 25 27 21 22 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 25% 27% 26% 22% 17% 21% 19% 42% 29% No 46 51 49 50 63 58 60 29 41 DK/NA 30 22 26 27 20 22 21 29 30 -
Question 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling - the response to the coronavirus?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 44% 13% 92% 39% 38% 50% 46% 25% Disapprove 49 83 5 53 53 46 52 71 DK/NA 6 4 2 8 9 4 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 49% 41% 49% 46% 31% 36% 34% 74% 50% Disapprove 45 52 49 50 65 62 63 22 41 DK/NA 6 8 1 4 4 2 3 5 9 -
Question 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling - the situation at the Mexican border?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 20% 4% 52% 13% 16% 24% 19% 11% Disapprove 71 95 34 78 76 66 71 83 DK/NA 9 1 14 9 8 9 10 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 11% 17% 30% 25% 12% 16% 14% 33% 26% Disapprove 77 73 68 69 81 76 78 58 66 DK/NA 12 10 2 6 7 8 8 9 8 AREA.................................... Dall/ South East FtWth Hstn Cntrl West South Approve 11% 31% 15% 25% 9% 20% Disapprove 85 54 79 63 81 76 DK/NA 4 15 6 12 10 4 -
Question 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Greg Abbott is handling - the response to the coronavirus?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 46% 85% 8% 43% 51% 40% 52% 62% Disapprove 50 14 91 53 44 55 46 33 DK/NA 4 1 1 4 5 4 2 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 38% 45% 46% 48% 61% 55% 58% 16% 39% Disapprove 61 48 50 49 35 41 39 82 57 DK/NA 1 7 5 3 4 4 4 3 5 -
Question 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Greg Abbott is handling - the economy?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 53% 87% 17% 54% 62% 45% 59% 64% Disapprove 39 10 78 39 29 48 34 28 DK/NA 8 3 5 7 9 7 7 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 43% 54% 56% 53% 69% 57% 62% 25% 49% Disapprove 50 36 35 42 23 36 30 67 43 DK/NA 7 9 8 5 8 7 7 9 8 -
Question 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Greg Abbott is handling - the situation at the Mexican border?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 43% 78% 11% 41% 51% 36% 51% 57% Disapprove 46 17 80 46 39 52 42 33 DK/NA 11 5 9 13 11 11 8 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 27% 42% 47% 48% 59% 51% 54% 12% 38% Disapprove 54 43 49 45 33 39 36 70 52 DK/NA 18 15 5 6 8 10 9 18 10 AREA.................................... Dall/ South East FtWth Hstn Cntrl West South Approve 60% 38% 31% 34% 64% 49% Disapprove 30 48 55 55 31 44 DK/NA 10 14 15 11 5 7 -
Question 15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Greg Abbott is handling - the issue of abortion?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 37% 73% 5% 32% 44% 31% 47% 46% Disapprove 53 20 94 55 45 60 51 42 DK/NA 10 8 1 13 11 8 2 12 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 27% 37% 42% 41% 52% 43% 47% 7% 35% Disapprove 67 49 55 51 40 49 45 79 56 DK/NA 6 14 3 8 7 8 8 14 8 RELIGION.......... Wht ATTEND SRVCS Evang Prot Cath Weekly Less Approve 74% 49% 42% 53% 32% Disapprove 18 41 54 36 61 DK/NA 7 10 4 11 7 -
Question 16. As governor, do you think Greg Abbott is taking Texas in the right direction or the wrong direction?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Right direction 45% 81% 8% 44% 52% 39% 52% 60% Wrong direction 48 14 92 49 39 57 46 35 DK/NA 7 6 - 7 9 4 1 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Right direction 33% 43% 49% 49% 61% 54% 57% 9% 39% Wrong direction 59 48 46 49 35 43 39 82 52 DK/NA 8 8 5 1 4 3 3 8 9 -
Question 17. Do you think Greg Abbott would make a good president, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 24% 51% 3% 17% 27% 20% 24% 33% No 67 39 97 73 63 71 68 56 DK/NA 9 10 - 11 10 9 8 12 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 20% 30% 18% 25% 30% 28% 29% 11% 22% No 76 62 70 66 59 62 61 87 70 DK/NA 4 8 12 9 10 10 10 2 8 -
Question 18. In general, do you think it is too easy to vote in Texas today, too difficult to vote in Texas today, or about right?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Too easy 19% 29% 4% 20% 20% 17% 14% 19% Too difficult 22 2 50 23 17 27 24 14 About right 55 66 40 55 59 52 59 63 DK/NA 5 3 6 3 5 4 3 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Too easy 19% 23% 14% 14% 18% 16% 17% 12% 20% Too difficult 18 28 24 23 18 19 18 51 18 About right 61 43 61 56 61 61 61 28 59 DK/NA 2 6 2 7 3 4 4 9 3 -
Question 19. Do you believe there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Believe 43% 78% 6% 42% 46% 39% 43% 58% No 51 18 94 53 47 56 55 37 DK/NA 6 4 1 5 7 5 2 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Believe 35% 47% 40% 42% 50% 53% 52% 22% 36% No 60 47 54 54 46 43 44 75 58 DK/NA 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 2 6 -
Question 20. As you may know, Texas has announced an audit of the 2020 election results from four of the largest counties in Texas. Do you approve or disapprove of this audit?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 53% 79% 14% 56% 56% 50% 47% 66% Disapprove 41 15 84 38 36 45 47 27 DK/NA 6 7 2 5 8 5 5 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 56% 53% 49% 45% 60% 57% 58% 34% 48% Disapprove 36 41 48 48 33 37 35 61 45 DK/NA 8 6 3 6 7 6 6 5 7 -
Question 21. Do you support or oppose Texas building a wall along the state's border with Mexico?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 51% 88% 12% 48% 57% 45% 59% 71% Oppose 44 10 86 46 39 50 38 25 DK/NA 5 2 2 6 5 5 3 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 42% 45% 53% 56% 69% 64% 66% 23% 36% Oppose 51 50 43 40 27 32 30 73 59 DK/NA 7 4 4 4 4 3 4 5 5 AREA.................................... Dall/ South East FtWth Hstn Cntrl West South Support 68% 43% 46% 43% 65% 53% Oppose 26 52 45 55 33 43 DK/NA 6 5 9 2 2 5 -
Question 22. Do you approve or disapprove of the Biden administration's decision to deport Haitian refugees who entered the U.S. illegally?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 57% 73% 44% 54% 63% 52% 62% 66% Disapprove 31 22 45 34 27 35 24 28 DK/NA 12 5 10 11 11 13 14 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 43% 54% 65% 62% 70% 61% 65% 34% 52% Disapprove 42 36 24 25 24 28 26 58 32 DK/NA 15 10 11 13 7 11 9 8 16 AREA.................................... Dall/ South East FtWth Hstn Cntrl West South Approve 63% 62% 51% 50% 56% 63% Disapprove 29 29 31 42 32 24 DK/NA 8 9 18 8 13 13