President Donald Trump's job approval rating stands at 47% among Texas voters, while 53% disapprove, according to a UMass Lowell/YouGov poll that also found widespread concern about rising costs, the war with Iran, and artificial intelligence data centers.
The survey of 850 likely Texas voters, conducted September 18-28, found Trump's approval three percentage points lower than the 50% recorded in UMass Lowell's October 2020 Texas poll. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott received a 52% job approval rating, down from 56% in the earlier survey.
The poll's adjusted margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
The findings also showed substantial opposition to U.S. spending on the Iran war. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said the government is spending too much on the conflict, while 55% opposed additional military aid to Israel and 45% supported it.
When asked what was driving higher energy costs, 72% identified the war in Iran as the primary factor. Another 11% cited tariffs, 8% pointed to gas taxes, 5% blamed environmental regulations and 4% named artificial intelligence data centers.
Affordability was another major concern. Fifty-six percent of respondents said paying for basic necessities had become somewhat or much harder over the previous six months. Thirty-four percent said their circumstances had remained about the same, while 10% said costs had become easier to manage.
"A majority of Texas likely voters say it has become harder to afford necessities, and more than eight in 10 identify the war in Iran or tariffs as the main reason for higher fuel and utility prices," said Rodrigo Castro Cornejo, an associate professor of political science and associate director of the Center for Public Opinion at UMass Lowell.
Opposition to local data center development was also high. Sixty-five percent of respondents opposed building an artificial intelligence data center in their community, while 56% supported a statewide ban on new data centers or expansions of existing facilities.
The opposition to local projects crossed age, gender, and racial groups, according to the survey.
The results come as Texas voters prepare to choose statewide and federal officeholders in the November 3 midterm elections.
