Amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in Texas driven by the highly contagious Delta variant, a poll conducted by the University of Texas/Texas Tribune shows that 44% of Texans approve of Greg Abbott’s job as governor, while 44% disapprove. Abbott, however, enjoys the approval of 77% of his own Republican party’s voters, with 43% of Republicans saying they “strongly approve” of his performance.
As per the poll, 82 percent of Democrats disapprove of Abbott, with 75% of those Democrats saying they “strongly disapprove” of his performance. Under the governor’s watch, over 50,000 people have lost their lives from COVID-19. Moreover, recently he also issued a mask mandate ban that prohibited government entities in the state, including school districts, counties, government officials, and health authorities, from mandating mask wearing. He had signed the executive order even amid the alarming rise in coronavirus infections.
Since April 2020, the approval rating for Governor Abbot has been decreasing gradually. Texans are getting more and more frustrated due to the governor’s lack of leadership and ability to bring his constituents together.
Abbott, who has constantly been downplaying the virus and is currently fighting a court battle after releasing the controversial executive, seems like he needs to do more since old policies for the COVID-19 are no longer working.
President Biden had also criticized the state as it lifted mask restrictions and even called it “Neanderthal thinking.”
In a statement published on CNN, Biden said, “I believe the results of their decisions are not good for their constituents. And it’s clear to me and to most of the medical experts that the decisions being made, like not allowing mask mandates in school and the like, are bad health policy.”
Although Abbott’s approval rating is continuously plunging down and more Texans are becoming dissatisfied with his performance, it may not be enough to make the governor step down. However, these ratings are excellent predictors of what can happen in future elections.
