Poll: Texas Republicans say tariffs will help in the long run
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Texas voters polled before President Trump's latest round of massive tariffs said they expected prices on consumer goods would increase, but Republican respondents said they will help in the long run, polling shows.
Why it matters: Texas' largest trading partner is Mexico, so the state stands to take a big hit from tariffs. Political fallout from higher prices could fall on state Republican leaders who closely align themselves with the president, experts say.
How it works: The Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin recently released new polling about tariffs, with a margin of error +/- 2.83%.
- The survey of 1,200 registered voters was conducted Feb. 14-24, before the recent round of tariffs sparked a global trade war, prompting stock markets to plunge.
By the numbers: 73% of Texans polled are "very concerned" about the price of food and consumer goods.
- 68% of overall respondents — including 48% of Republicans — said they expect that tariffs will lead to higher prices for everyday goods.
Yes, but: 67% of Republicans polled said the tariffs will help the U.S. economy in the long run, compared with just 7% of Democrats and 22% of independents.
- Meanwhile, 82% of Democrats polled said tariffs will hurt the economy in the long run.
Reality check: Most economists, even on the right, say tariffs will likely increase the prices of necessities and leave people with less money to spend.
What they're saying: "Asking voters about the long-term impact of Trump's tariffs uncovers a little more room for the president to maneuver — even if it's impossible to know how much," Jim Henson and Joshua Blank, of the Texas Politics Project, wrote in a post about the polling.
- "This is likely a big reason why he pivoted to the 'short-term pain, long-term gain' messaging soon after his return to the White House."
Worthy of your time: Axios' tariffs 101 explainer