Voters Disapprove of Republican Attacks on Pre-Existing Conditions and Incumbents’’ Pro-Repeal Record, Say They Want Affordable Care Act Improved Rather than Repealed, and Trust Democrats More Than Republicans With Their Health Care
“The 7th Congressional District – stretching west from some of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods into the Harris County suburbs – has become critical turf in the November midterm elections,” says the Houston Chronicle
Texas Congressional District 32 is “the most competitive race in North Texas,” says ABC News in Dallas
Washington, DC – New Public Policy Polling (PPP) surveys commissioned by Protect Our Care find that health care may be a decisive issue for voters in the Texas battlegrounds of TX-07 and TX-32. Said Leslie Dach, chair of Protect Our Care, in response to the poll findings:
“From their repeated votes to repeal protections for people with pre-existing conditions, to their votes to allow insurance companies to charge people over 50 five times more for healthcare, Pete Sessions and John Culbertson’s repeal-and-sabotage records are out of step with Texas voters, who say that health care is one of the most important issues to them this election.”
Key Findings from PPP-Protect Our Care Poll in TX-07
- Health care is a very important issue to voters when deciding who to vote for. 65% say it is either the most important issue or a very important issue when deciding who to vote for.
- Texans are very concerned about the possible consequences of repealing the ACA. 58% of voters think charging people 50+ years old, five times more than younger people for health insurance is a major concern. Eliminating protections for people with pre-existing conditions is a major concern for 61% of voters.
- In a preview of the November election, Democrat Lizzie Pannill Fletcher holds a slight lead over Republican John Culberson, 47-45.
Key Findings from PPP-Protect Our Care Poll in TX-32
- Health care is a very important issue to voters when deciding who to vote for. 66% say it is either the most important issue or a very important issue when deciding who to vote for.
- Texans are very concerned about the possible consequences of repealing the ACA. 58% of voters think charging people 50+ years old, five times more than younger people for health insurance is a major concern. Eliminating protections for people with pre-existing conditions is a major concern for 61% of voters.
- In a preview of the November election, Democrat Colin Allred has a lead over Republican Pete Sessions, 47-42.
The PPP-Protect Our Care Polls Mirror Data from Google Trends Showing that Searches for Health Care Dominate across the State — including in TX-07 and TX-32.
- In Dallas County (TX-32), 46 percent of all issue searches were on health care; the next highest immigration (34 percent).
- In Harris County (TX-07), 41 percent of all issue searches were on health care; the next highest was immigration (37 percent).
- In a preview of the November election, Democrat Colin Allred has a lead over Republican Pete Sessions, 47-42.
Here’s how the PPP-Protect Our Care polls were covered locally:
Qurorum Report: PPP Poll Shows both Sessions and Culberson Trailing Challengers
“A new round of polling out from Public Policy Polling finds both Representatives Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, and John Culberson, R-Houston, trailing their Democratic opponents Colin Allred and Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, respectively.
“[…] 66% of those surveyed in Sessions’ district said health care is either the most important or a very important issue when choosing who to vote for. 58% of voters think charging those over age 50 more than the young for health insurance is a major concern.
“Eliminating protections for people with pre-existing conditions is a major concern for 61% of voters in Sessions’ district.
“Similar numbers appeared in Harris County, where 65% said health care was either the most important or a very important issue. 61% of voters there felt eliminating protections for people with pre-exisitng conditions is a major concern.”
Texas Tribune’s Patrick Svitek:
