**UT Tyler Survey Reveals Low Approval for Biden, Abbott; Strong Support for Abortion Exceptions, Cannabis Legalization**
TYLER, Texas – A new survey from the University of Texas at Tyler's Department of Political Science indicates President Joe Biden's approval rating among registered Texas voters has reached an all-time low, while majorities express strong support for exceptions to the state's abortion ban and the legalization of recreational cannabis. The full results of the Texas Voter Survey were released December 14, 2023.
Conducted online between November 27 and December 8, 2023, the survey polled 1,280 registered Texas voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.74 percentage points.
According to the findings, President Biden holds a 33% approval rating among Texans, with 62% disapproving of his job performance. Governor Greg Abbott also faces a majority disapproval, with 46% approving and 51% disapproving. Similarly, Senator Ted Cruz's job performance garnered 45% approval and 50% disapproval.
When asked about their biggest concerns, inflation remained the top issue for Texans at 33%, followed by immigration and border security at 21%. The general economy (11%), healthcare (10%), and reproductive rights or abortion issues (8%) rounded out the top five concerns.
On the topic of abortion, a significant 79% of Texans believe there should be exceptions to the state’s ban for cases of rape or incest, a sentiment shared by 71% of Republicans. Additionally, 73% support exceptions for severe fetal abnormalities, and an overwhelming 83% believe exceptions are necessary to save the mother’s life. Support for abortion for any reason during the first trimester of pregnancy stands at 59% among all voters.
The survey also highlighted strong support for cannabis reform. A majority of Texans, 64%, are in favor of legalizing recreational cannabis for adults. This includes 79% of Democrats, 71% of Independents, and 48% of Republicans. Support for legalizing medical cannabis is even higher at 80%, and 63% of voters back decriminalizing small amounts of cannabis.
For more detailed information and the complete survey results, visit the University of Texas at Tyler Department of Political Science website, typically found at `https://www.uttyler.edu/political-science/texas-voter-survey/`.
