Donald Trump's 2020 Election Nightmare Has Arrived: He Is Losing Texas

July 13, 2020 Topic: Politics Blog Brand: 2020 Election Tags: Donald Trump2020 ElectionTexasPoliticsJoe Biden

Donald Trump's 2020 Election Nightmare Has Arrived: He Is Losing Texas

And that is one state he can't afford to lose. Period. 

 

Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden holds a five-point lead in Texas over President Donald Trump, according to a poll released Sunday.

The poll, conducted by the Dallas Morning News/ University of Texas at Tyler, revealed Biden had 46 percent support, whereas Trump had 41 percent. The statistics are slightly different than a similar survey recorded in April, with Biden and Trump tied at 43 percent.

 

Trump’s growing disapproval in a normally red state shows Texas’ discontent over the president’s grip on the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden’s increasing support in the state is from independent and “weak partisans,” Kenneth Bryant Jr., a UT-Tyler political scientist involved with conducting the poll, told the Dallas Morning News.

“While President Trump has and still enjoys near-universal approval from Republicans, and overwhelming disfavor from Democrats, he has lost considerable ground among the folks in the middle, who may ultimately decide who wins Texas in November,” Bryant said.

Surveyors were asked for their opinions about Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, and 44 percent of participants said they “strongly disapprove” and only 22 percent said they “strongly approve.” The poll also questioned surveyors’ trust in Trump’s “approach to coronavirus,” with 46 percent saying they have none.

The poll also examined how Governor Greg Abbott is handling the coronavirus, with answers remaining slightly divided. About 54 percent of participants approve or “strongly approve” of his guidance during the pandemic, whereas 31 percent say they disapprove or “strongly disapprove.”

Abbott started to encourage Texans to wear a face mask to tame the spread of the virus. He hasn’t, however, imposed a statewide mask mandate. 

“Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of #COVID19 while continuing to keep Texas businesses open. Texans should wear a face covering for the health of their families, friends and for all fellow Texans,” he tweeted.

Biden’s campaign hasn’t revealed any large-scale plans to soak up more votes in Texas, as the state hasn’t voted for a Democrat since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

In a poll released by CBS News on Sunday, statistics show Trump leading in Texas at 46 percent with Biden trailing closely behind at 45 percent.

 

Rachel Bucchino is a reporter at the National Interest. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report and The Hill.

Image: Reuters.