In recent history, Texas has been one of the most popular states, with millions of people moving there from other states. There are many benefits to relocating to Texas, both for individuals and companies. The Texas economy is booming. Texas, as one of the country’s fastest-growing states, experienced significant economic growth from 1997 to 2022. Over the last 25 years, Texas’ GDP has grown significantly, from $870 billion to 115%. The Texas economy recorded its 36th successive month of growth in March this year and is performing substantially better than the U.S. economy as a whole, according to Newsweek, citing figures from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The benefits
Texas’ long-term policies also made housing much more affordable compared to some other states, like New York and especially California. In Texas, one can much more easily afford their dream home than in most of the other states across the country. Texas does not have an individual income tax and has a 6.25 percent state sales tax rate. Furthermore, there is no corporate income tax in the Lone Star State, which makes it very popular for companies to consider their relocation there.
The political perspective
We all know Texas is a red state. Democrats haven’t won a statewide election since 1994, and Republicans have carried the state in every presidential election since 1976. People often refer to Texas as a deep-red state, a well-known Republican stronghold. The fact that so many people relocate to Texas each year due to the state’s lower taxes and fewer regulations brings even more conservative ideals. But a recent survey found that Republicans are not as happy as they once used to be, citing some of the GOP’s decisions and opposition to certain policies.
(Un)expected issue
A new poll reveals that the conservative stance on issues like gun control, abortion, and climate-friendly investment practices is very unpopular in Texas, and it’s costing the state billions of dollars. This survey was conducted by the progressive group Unlocking America’s Future (UAF). It found that nearly 75% of Texans think the state is neglecting important issues to pursue a far-right conservative agenda.
Not all Republican voters back extremism
Kyle Herrig, a spokesperson for UAF, commented to The Hill that Texans are increasingly unhappy with leaders who disregard crucial issues to promote an extreme conservative approach. An associated report suggests that the conservative policies, particularly against climate-friendly investments, are hindering the growth of Texas’s otherwise booming economy.
“Every time lawmakers pass an extreme right-wing law, they send the message to businesses and investors that Texas is closed for business. Take your millions elsewhere,” its authors wrote. “Whatever your outlook on what once led to the ‘Texas Miracle’ – today, it is under threat.”
A successful journey
The term “Texas Miracle” emerged following the 2008 recession, a time when other parts of the Sun Belt faced widespread layoffs and empty housing areas. This term credits the state’s economic resilience to the energy boom and policies introduced by then-Governor Rick Perry (R), as noted by a journalist to The Texas Standard. Perry’s initiatives helped establish Texas as a leader in renewable energy industries, even under Republican leadership. In recent years, however, figures like Perry’s successor, Governor Greg Abbott, and Attorney General Ken Paxton, have shifted the narrative. They claim Texas’s economic strength comes from the unrestricted growth of the fossil fuel and firearms sectors.
“As Attorney General, my job is to uphold state law and ensure that Texas remains a friendly state for companies to do business—including those that produce the energy we depend on and the firearms that secure our safety and freedom,” Paxton wrote last year.
Unpopular findings
Since 2021, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton, all Republicans, have aggressively targeted financial companies they claim are boycotting fossil fuels and firearms. In response, Texas has prohibited state and local governments from engaging with 14 major banks that plan to divest from coal, oil, or gas, which significantly contribute to global warming.
According to a poll by Unlocking America’s Future (UAF), such actions are largely unpopular. Over three-quarters of those polled believe that the Texas government should avoid doing business with firms that have poor environmental or workplace safety standards.
The results
The survey results indicate strong opinions about Texas lawmakers: about 77% of Texans—62% of whom are Republicans—feel that state legislators are primarily serving the interests of their wealthy donors. Moreover, 66% of all voters, including 45% of Republicans, think they are overly supportive of the fossil fuel industry. This survey, conducted among 1,114 likely voters between April 7 and April 12, has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
