Nearly three quarters of Texas voters approved Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) extension of early voting by one week for last year’s general election, according to a new poll by Republican pollster Chris Perkins (Ragnar Research) conducted for Secure Democracy, an election integrity advocacy group. The additional week was supported by 91% of Democrats, 75% of independents and 58% of Republicans.
Nearly 90% of respondents supported early voting on weekends, 84% supported increasing the number of polling locations, 81% supported providing assistance to voters who need it and 62% said those providing assistance should not face the potential of felony criminal charges. Electronic mail ballot tracking was supported by 83% of respondents, and 88% supported requiring an auditable paper trail for votes cast electronically.
Overall, the poll found that 97% of respondents had a “good experience” with voting in the 2020 general election. Two thirds of respondents said they did not believe significant fraud occurred in that election.
The poll of 1,002 Texans was conducted over landline and mobile numbers and was in the field March 7-9. The poll’s margin of error is ±3%.
CD6 special: Nearly half of “likely voters” have not settled on a preferred candidate for the May 1 special election, according to a new internal poll released by the Jana Lynne Sanchez (D) campaign. The poll found Susan Wright (R) leading the field with 21%, followed by Sanchez at 17%, Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Waxahachie) at 8%, Lydia Bean (D) at 5% and Shawn Lassiter (D) at 3%.
Only eight of the 23 candidates were polled. Notably, the poll excluded former Trump administration official Brian Harrison (R), whose campaign has already released two ads, and former wrestler and Nevada congressional candidate Dan Rodimer (R).
The poll of 450 likely voters had a relatively large ±4.6% margin of error.
The Tarrant Co. AFL-CIO endorsed Bean. Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans and Tarrant Co. Constable Robert McGinty (D) endorsed Patrick Moses (D).
GOV: Retiring Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price told the Washington Post’s Jacqueline Alemany that she had been approached about running for governor but she has “no desire to do that.”
Actor Matthew McConaughey has repeatedly teased interest in running, though his politics remain unclear (He hasn’t voted in a primary election in at least a decade.). We will not be tracking him in our Crib Sheets until his intention becomes clearer.
AG: In a video posted to Twitter, McKinney civil rights attorney Lee Merritt announced he intends to challenge Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton (R).
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