Trump approval ratings slip in Texas as economic concerns grow

President Donald Trump’s job approval ratings have fallen in Texas, with 47% of voters approving and 46% disapproving of his performance, according to a new University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll released on May 6, 2025.

The decline represents a significant shift from February’s numbers, when 52% approved and 38% disapproved of the president’s job performance. This 5-point approval decline and 8-point disapproval increase suggests Trump’s brief post-election honeymoon in the Lone Star State has ended.

Economic Concerns Driving Ratings Drop

Economic uncertainty and shifts in immigration trends appear to be the primary factors affecting Trump’s standing with Texas voters as the state legislature enters the final weeks of its 140-day session.

Trump’s economic ratings show particular weakness, with more Texas voters disapproving (46%) than approving (40%) of his handling of the economy. This represents a significant reversal from October 2020, when 52% approved and 42% disapproved of his economic performance — a 16-point negative swing on this critical issue.

The poll found that Texas voters harbor negative expectations about the impact of tariffs, with 70% believing that increased U.S. tariffs will result in higher prices. Additionally, 53% of Texans believe tariffs will hurt their household economic situation, while just 22% expect tariffs to help them financially.

Immigration Perceptions Changing

Immigration concerns, while still important, show declining salience among Republican voters. The percentage of Republicans identifying immigration or border security as Texas’ most important problem has dropped dramatically from 68% in February 2024 to 35% in April 2025 — a 33-point decrease. During this same period, Republicans citing economic concerns as the state’s top problem increased from 9% to 23%.

Despite this shift in priorities, Republicans overwhelmingly approve (92%) of Trump’s handling of immigration and border security, with only 4% disapproving. Overall, 52% of Texas voters approve of Trump’s immigration performance, while 38% disapprove.

Legislative Priorities

The poll identified key policy priorities for Texas voters, with more than 70% rating the following as “extremely” or “very important” for the legislature to address:

• Improving the reliability of the state’s energy grid (82%)
• Lowering everyday goods and services costs (77%)
• Reducing property taxes (75%)
• Improving water supply reliability (79%)
• Increasing healthcare access (73%)
• Lowering housing costs (72%)

2026 Early Indicators

Looking ahead to 2026, the poll measured job approval for potential contenders in upcoming races. Attorney General Ken Paxton shows stronger support among Republicans than U.S. Senator John Cornyn, who may face a primary challenge from Paxton.

Among Republican voters, Cornyn received 44% approval with 25% disapproving, while Paxton garnered 60% approval with only 13% disapproving. Favorability ratings showed a similar pattern, with 46% of Republicans viewing Cornyn favorably compared to 59% for Paxton.

The poll suggests Trump faces significant challenges in Texas as economic concerns mount, particularly regarding his tariff policies and their impact on consumer prices. While Republican support remains strong, his overall standing has weakened since taking office for his second term in January.