Houston Daily

New research conducted by the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs reveals that Harris County voters are expressing concern about local issues such as crime, infrastructure, flooding, and housing costs. According to the study, 57% of registered voters believe the county is on the wrong path. The survey also shows a divide in opinions on how to address the county’s budget shortfall: 38% support cutting programs and services, while 30% prefer raising taxes and fees.

Renée Cross, senior executive director at the Hobby School, highlighted partisan and demographic differences in voter opinions. "Harris County has a well-deserved reputation as a place where people pull together in times of natural disasters," she said. However, she noted that these divides reflect broader national political trends.

The survey found that Republican voters are more likely to view the county's direction negatively compared to Democrats and independents. There are also disparities in perceptions of neighborhood quality-of-life issues among different racial groups. Mark P. Jones from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy noted that Black and Latino residents reported greater negative impacts from issues like crime and lack of sidewalks than white residents.

Crime remains a significant concern for many voters, with 20% identifying it as their top issue. Infrastructure problems such as poor road conditions and flooding were also prominent concerns.

The study indicates varying views on housing costs across different demographics. Additionally, confidence in election fairness is relatively strong locally but decreases at state and national levels.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez received high approval ratings from voters, while County Judge Lina Hidalgo had lower ratings among county officials.

The full report is accessible on the Hobby School website. The survey was conducted between July 9-18 with a sample size of 2,300 registered voters in Harris County.