HOUSTON — NOTE: Need PDF embed before publishing. Filed a ticket earlier this morning, - Jaime
A new survey examined the impact of the school voucher program fight and impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Republican primary voters.
Republicans in the state capitol in Austin exited 2023 with sharp divisions within their own party over how to move forward with Gov. Greg Abbott’s push for school choice legislation as well as bitter reactions over votes to impeach Attorney General Paxton.
Abbott failed to get his legislative priority over the finish line as a bloc of House Republicans have held steadfast in their opposition to using public funds to help some students go to private schools. Now, Abbott has turned his focus on trying to replace those Republicans through the primary and endorsing opponents who do support a school voucher program, according to a report from The Texas Tribune.
Another report from The Texas Tribune said Paxton has his own interests, seeking to enact revenge on House GOP members who voted to impeach him. This has sometimes put his efforts and Abbott’s endorsements at odds.
“This is the most conflict we've seen within Texas House primaries in modern history,” Mark Jones, a University of Hobby School research associate and Rice University professor, told KHOU 11.
But a survey from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs found that among likely Republican primary voters, the school voucher fight carries more significance.
“If you voted against school choice and Governor Abbott is supporting your opponent, you're in trouble and you better have really strong ties to your district and strong support on other issues if you're going to survive a Republican challenge,” Jones said.
The survey asked respondents how a Republican incumbent’s vote against school vouchers would impact their vote in a particular race.
Sixty percent said they were less likely to vote for a primary incumbent who voted against school choice legislation, compared to 16% who said the incumbent’s vote against school vouchers would make them more likely to vote for that candidate. Twenty-four percent said it had no impact.
The governor’s hope to pass school choice in a future session rests on being able to replace some rural Republicans with those who support school vouchers – known as a school savings account, as the governor promoted last year. But pollsters told KHOU 11 the divide among voters is not the regional polarizing issue it is made to be when often discussed.
“I think one of the myths that surrounds a lot of these school choice debate is that somehow Republican primary voters in rural areas are less likely to support vouchers than are Republican primary voters in suburban areas, that's not the case,” Jones said.
The survey looked at other questions as well and the full report can be viewed here: