In the latest installment of the Texas Trends 2025 survey, researchers revealed a politically fractured Texas electorate, one that agrees broadly that partisan gerrymandering is a problem, but remains sharply divided over abortion medication restrictions, transgender rights and prosecutorial power in election law.
The study, published by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs and Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, is based on responses from 1,650 registered voters between Sept. 19 and Oct. 1, 2025.
It offers a snapshot of how Texans view the state’s most contentious legislative actions following this year’s second special session.
Texans on gerrymandering
“Overall, we found wide agreement that partisan redistricting is a problem, with almost 90% saying it is a problem and 68% saying it is a major problem,” said Renée Cross, researcher and senior executive director of the Hobby School. “But as with the other bills we asked Texans to consider, we found stark divisions between Democrats and Republicans on the question.”
By the numbers:
- 68% say it’s a major problem; 21% call it minor; 11% see no problem.
- Democrats: 91% major, 7% minor, 2% no problem.
- Republicans: 41% major, 36% minor, 23% no problem.
- 46% want independent commissions to draw districts; 29% prefer the Legislature; 25% unsure.
- Women (75%) and Black voters (85%) are most likely to see gerrymandering as a major issue (vs. 61% of men and 61% of white voters)
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Texas has the largest Black population in the nation, and the recent redistricting map disproportionately affects minority districts by packing and cracking them. As a result, the number of Black minority districts in Houston has decreased from two to one. Packing CD 18 and… <a href=”https://t.co/IWQvJ1cvIO”>pic.twitter.com/IWQvJ1cvIO</a></p>— Texas State Senator Borris L. Miles (@BorrisLMiles) <a href=”https://twitter.com/BorrisLMiles/status/1959137313113407489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>August 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Abortion medication lawsuits deeply unpopular statewide
Texans were far less divided on House Bill 7, which allows private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, or provides abortion medication in the state. Among them, 60% voters oppose this legislation while 40% support it.
The gender gap is pronounced: 65% of women oppose HB 7 compared with 53% of men. Opposition is also overwhelming among Democrats (83%) and Independents (72%), but just 32% of Republicans reject it. Still, the poll found that nearly one-third of Republicans oppose the measure, showing some discomfort even within conservative ranks.
Racially, Black Texans were the most opposed to the law (68%), followed by Latino (60%) and white voters (57%). Supporters of HB 7 often framed it as a defense of unborn life, while opponents saw it as a dangerous expansion of private enforcement that could target doctors and pharmaceutical providers.
Transgender restroom restrictions find broad support but with generational divides
Senate Bill 8, which requires transgender Texans to use public restrooms and locker rooms that match their biological sex rather than their gender identity, drew the highest approval of the three laws tested.
Sixty-eight percent of respondents support the policy, and 32% oppose it.
More than 90% of Republicans back SB 8, compared to 36% of Democrats and 69% of Independents. While men overwhelmingly favor the bill (85%), women are more evenly split.
“There is broad support for Senate Bill 8 regulating which restrooms transgender people can use in public buildings, with 68% saying they support the bill, including 52% who strongly support it,” said Michael O. Adams, director of the Executive Master of Public Administration graduate program at Texas Southern University.
Texans divided on Attorney General’s power to prosecute election crimes
When it comes to Senate Bill 12, which grants the Texas Attorney General the authority to prosecute election law violations without the consent of local district attorneys, voters are almost evenly split: 48% support it and 52% oppose.
Partisan identity again plays a defining role. 82% of Republicans support SB 12, compared with only 15% of Democrats.
Proponents argue the law closes loopholes that allow local prosecutors to ignore election crime cases, while opponents view it as political overreach by AG Ken Paxton’s office.
A polarized portrait of Texas
Together, the findings paint a picture of a state where gender, race, and education shape views, but partisanship remains the most powerful predictor of political attitudes.
The survey offers an early glimpse into voter sentiment heading into the 2026 election cycle, when many of the lawmakers who voted for these bills will be back on the ballot.
