Early voting for the Texas primary began Feb.17 and runs through Feb. 27, allowing voters to cast ballots ahead of the Mar. 3 Election Day. Key races on the ballot include a U.S. Senate seat, all 38 Congressional districts, and statewide offices such as governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Voters must present a valid photo ID at polling sites, and those wishing to vote by mail must ensure their applications are received by the Feb. 20 deadline.
As early voting prepared to kick into gear, a new poll conducted by the University of Houston, collected responses from 550 likely voters in Texas in both the Republican and Democratic primary elections.
The new survey shows Cong. Chip Roy pulling out a head in the attorney general race with 33%, followed by state Sens. Mayes Middleton, with 23%, and Joan Huffman, 13%, and Aaron Reitz, 6%. Twenty-five percent of respondents were undecided.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is trailing Ken Paxton, who is in the lead with 38% in the Republican field, while Cong. Jasmine Crocket leads on the Democratic side with 47%. Twenty-five percent of respondents were undecided in the race.
Likely Democratic voters fielded in their Texas attorney general primary race predominantly chose state Sen. Nathan Johnson (DDallas), who received 25 percent, while Joe Jaworski followed with 22 percent and Anthony “Tony” Box with 13 percent. Forty percent of the respondents were undecided.
Incumbent Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is leading in his race for re-election with 48% against the Gov. Greg Abbott-endorsed Nate Sheets, who received18%.
After Comptroller Glenn Hagar was named the next Texas A&M University System chancellor, Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines, and by Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock. The UH’s survey shows Huffines in the lead with 33%, followed by Craddick with 21%, and Hancock trailing with 13%. Incumbent Governor Greg Abbott is leading the Republican primary polls for governor with 49%, with State Rep. Gina Hinojosa taking the lead for the Democrats at 37%.
Incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick received 46% of likely voters in the general election sample, while the leading Democratic contender for that office, state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, received 41%.
However, 45 percent and 58 percent responded as not knowing enough about Hinojosa and Goodwin, respectively, to have an opinion on them.
The survey also measured Abbott’s and Patrick’s favorability ratings among general election voters. The governor was “viewed favorably” by 51 percent of voters, while 41% responded “unfavorably.” Patrick was viewed unfavorably by 43%, per the poll, and favorably by 41%.