COVID-19 IN TEXAS

A STUDY OF THE IMPACTS ON, AND THE PREFERENCES

AND BEHAVIORS OF, TEXANS AND TEXAS HISPANICS

AUGUST 21, 2020

ExecutiveSummaryThisreportexaminesTexaspublicopinionamidsttheCOVID-19Pandemic,withparticularfocusonthepolicypreferencesofTexansvis-à-visgovernmentalresponsestothepandemic,theimpactofthepandemiconTexans,andTexanmask-wearingbehavior.Thereportisbasedonanonlinerepresentativesurveyof846TexasregisteredvoterscarriedoutbetweenAugust4andAugust13,2020.ApluralityofTexans(44.0%)believesthatTexashasrelaxedrestrictionsonbusinessopeningsandsocialdistancingrequirementstooquickly,with28.0%oftheopiniontheyhavebeenrelaxedatabouttherightpaceand28.0%thinkingTexashasbeenmovingtooslowlyinitsrelaxationofrestrictionsandrequirements.However,thereexistprofoundethnic/racialdifferencesintheseopinions,withonlyathirdofAnglos(34.5%)believingthingshavemovedtooquickly,comparedtomorethanhalfofHispanics(55.5%)andAfricanAmericans(61.0%).Texansareevenlysplit47.9%to52.1%betweenthosewhobelievethecountry’stoppriorityshouldbetogettheeconomygoingbysendingpeoplebacktowork(evenifitmeansmorepeoplemightbeexposedtoCOVID-19)andthosewhobelievethecountry’stoppriorityshouldbeslowingthespreadoftheCoronavirus,eveniftheeconomyishurt.Onceagainhowever,thereexistsadeepethnic/racialcleavageinregardtothesetwopriorities.While77.7%ofAfricanAmericansand66.1%ofHispanicsbelieveslowingthespreadoftheCoronavirusshouldbethecountry’stoppriority,only40.2%ofAnglossharethisopinion.Inasimilarvein,thereisanoteworthygendersplit,with58.6%ofwomenbelievingthatslowingthespreadofthevirusshouldbethetopprioritycomparedtoonly44.2%ofmen.NineoutoftenTexansreportthatwhentheyenteragrocerystore(92.9%)orotherindoorretailspace(89.9%)theyareeitherextremelylikelyorlikelytowearamask.Incontrast,morethanhalfofTexansstatethattheyareunlikelyorveryunlikelytowearamaskwhentheyenterafriend’shome(53.8%)orarelative’shome(58.3%).ComparedtoAfricanAmericans(11.6%,16.7%)andHispanics(39.6%,40.6%),Anglos(69.9%,55.6%)areespeciallyunlikelytowearamaskwhentheyenterafriend’shomeorarelative’shomerespectively.InlinewiththepublichealthdatanowbeingreleasedbythestateofTexas,Hispanics(29.4%)andAfricanAmericans(23.7%)aresignificantlymorelikelythanAnglos(12.3%)toreportthattheyoranimmediatefamilymemberhastestedpositiveforCOVID-19.Only1in30Texans(3.4%)appearstobeengagedintheextremeself-quarantiningthatwouldlendastrongdegreeofcredibilitytotheirclaimthat,bynotprovidingamailballotoptiontothoseunder65whofearcontractingtheCoronavirus,thestateofTexasisforcingthemtochoosebetweentheirhealthandsuffrage.But,theverylimiteddatasuggestiftheseindividualsdonotturnouttovote,Republicancandidatesmaywellbeadvantaged,andDemocraticcandidatesdisadvantaged.

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COVID-19INTEXAS:AStudyOfTheImpactsOn,AndThePreferencesAndBehaviorsOf,

TexansAndTexasHispanicsThisreportisthesecondofathree-partseriesfocusingonthe2020PresidentialandU.S.SenateElections,theCOVID-19Pandemic,andHispanicVoters.ThisreportanalyzesTexasopinionsrelatedtotheCOVID-19pandemic,itsimpactonTexasandhowTexanshaverespondedandadaptedtoit.ThefirstreportexaminedthepresidentialandU.S.SenatevotingpreferencesamongTexasvotersaswellasTexans’evaluationofPresidentialTrump’sperformanceinkeypolicyareas.ItalsoexploredtheoverallfavorabilityratingsofnationalandstatepoliticiansalongwiththeimpactofDonaldTrump’stenureinofficeonvoterevaluationsoftheTexasRepublicanParty.METHODOLOGYThesurveywasconductedbetweenAugust4,2020andAugust13,2020fortheTexasHispanicPolicyFoundation(THPF)incoordinationwithRiceUniversity’sBakerInstitute.DatawascollectedviaaYouGovpanelbyinterviewing892respondentsonlinewhowerethenmatcheddowntoasampleof846Texasregisteredvoterstoproducethefinaldataset,whichcontainsanoversampleofHispanicstoallowformoredetailedintra-groupanalysisthanispossibleinastandardsurvey.YouGovisthenation’smostprestigiousonlinesurveycompany,conductingU.S.electionrelatedsurveysforCBSNews,YahooNews,HuffPostandTheEconomist,amongothers.Inaddition,inTexasYouGovhasformorethanadecadeconductedthehighlyregardedandinfluentialtriennialUniversityofTexas/TexasTribunePoll.Therespondentswerematchedtoasamplingframeongender,age,race,andeducation.Theframewasconstructedbystratifiedsamplingfromthe2018CurrentPopulationSurvey(CPS)samplewithselectionwithinstratabyweightedsamplingwithreplacements(usingthepersonweightsonthepublicusefile).Thematchedcaseswereweightedtothesamplingframeusingpropensityscores.Thematchedcasesandtheframewerecombinedandalogisticregressionwasestimatedforinclusionintheframe.Thepropensityscorefunctionincludedage,gender,race/ethnicity,yearsofeducation,andregion.Thepropensityscoresweregroupedintodecilesoftheestimatedpropensityscoreintheframeandpost-stratifiedaccordingtothesedeciles.Theweightswerethenpost-stratifiedon2016Presidentialvotechoice,andafour-waystratificationofgender,age(4-categories),race(4-categories),andeducation(4-categories),toproducethefinalweight.

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COVID-19RESTRICTIONSINTEXASInthesurveyrespondentswereaskediftheybelievedthattheCOVID-19restrictionsonbusinessoperationsandsocialdistancingrequirementsinTexaswerebeingrelaxedtooquickly,tooslowly,oratjustabouttherightpace.Overall,44.0%ofTexansbelievetherestrictionsarebeingrelaxedtooquicklyversus28.0%whobelievetheyarebeingrelaxedtooslowly,andanother28.0%whoareoftheopinionthatthepaceofrestrictionandrequirementrelaxationinTexasisproceedingatabouttherightpace.Table1providestheoveralldistributionofopinionsaswellasthedistributionbrokendownamongthethreeprincipalethnic/racialgroupsinTexas:Anglos(non-HispanicWhites),Hispanics,andAfricanAmericans.Anglosaccountedfor57.1%ofthesurveyrespondents,Hispanicsfor25.5%,AfricanAmericansfor13.9%andothersfor3.6%(thislattergroupistoosmallforreliableanalysisandisthereforeexcludedfromthetables).Table1.Ethnicity/Race&RelaxationofCOVID-19Restrictions(%)Response Overall Anglos Hispanics African

AmericansTooQuickly 44.0 34.5 55.5 61.0RightPace 28.0 32.3 22.8 19.4TooSlowly 28.0 33.2 21.7 19.6Anglosaresplitintothirdswithequalsizedgroupsbelievingthepaceofrelaxationishappeningtooquickly(34.5%),tooslowly(33.2%),andatabouttherightpace(32.3%).ThisstandsinsharpcontrasttobothHispanicsandAfricanAmericans,wherealargemajority(55.5%and61.0%)believetherelaxationofrestrictionsandsocialdistancingrequirementsistakingplacetooquickly,versusonlyafifth(21.7%and19.6%respectively)whobelieveitistakingplacetooslowlyandafifthwhobelieveitisoccurringatjustabouttherightpace(22.8%and19.4%respectively).Table2providesabreakdownofopinionsrelatedtotherelaxationofCOVID-19restrictionsandsocialdistancingrequirementsbygender.Womenaccountfor55.0%oftherespondentsandmenfor45.0%.Table2.Gender&RelaxationofCOVID-19Restrictions(%)Response Overall Women MenTooQuickly 44.0 47.4 39.7RightPace 28.0 29.5 26.2TooSlowly 28.0 23.1 34.1

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Thereexistsamoderategenderdifferenceinregardtotherespondents’viewsregardingtherelaxationofCOVID-19restrictionsandsocialdistancingrequirements.Womenaremodestlymorelikelythanmentobelievetherelaxationisoccurringtooquickly(47.4%to39.7%)whilemenaremodestlymorelikelythanwomentobelievetherelaxationisoccurringtooslowly(34.1%to23.1%).Relativelyequalsharesofwomenandmenbelievethepaceofrelaxationisaboutright(29.5%vs.26.2%respectively).Table3providesabreakdownofopinionsrelatedtotherelaxationofCOVID-19restrictionsandsocialdistancingrequirementsbygeneration.ForthepurposesofthisanalysisthemembersoftheSilentGeneration(bornbetween1928and1945)aregroupedtogetherwiththeBabyBoomers(1946-1964),andMillenials(1981-1996)andmembersofGenerationZ(1997-)aregroupedtogether.GenerationX(1965-1980)isexaminedonitsown.Thethreegroupsaccountfor47.3%,31.0%and21.7%ofthesurveypopulationrespectively.Table3.Generation&RelaxationofCOVID-19Restrictions(%)Response Overall SilentGeneration

&BabyBoomersGenerationX Millenials&

GenerationZTooQuickly 44.0 40.8 49.1 45.1RightPace 28.0 32.5 23.0 24.7TooSlowly 28.0 26.7 27.9 30.2TherearerelativelylimitedgenerationaldifferencesinregardtothepaceofrelaxationofCOVID-19restrictionsandsocialdistancingrequirements.MembersofGenerationXareslightlymorelikelythanmembersoftheSilentGeneration&BabyBoomers(49.1%to40.8%)tobelievethingsareprogressingtooquickly,withtheobversetrueinregardtobeliefthatthingsareprogressingattherightpace(23.0%vs.32.5%).Otherthanthat,thereexistlittleinthewayofnotablegenerationaldifferencesonthispolicydimension.Table4providesabreakdownofopinionsontherelaxationofCOVID-19restrictionsandsocialdistancingrequirementsbyeducation.Respondentsweresplitintothreegroupsbasedontheirhighestlevelofeducationalattainment:primarythroughhighschool(30.0%),somecollegethroughatwo-yearcollegedegree(30.6%),andafour-yeardegreethroughapostgraduatedegree(39.4%).Table4.Education&RelaxationofCOVID-19Restrictions(%)Response Overall Primary+

HighSchoolSomeCollege+2YearDegree

4YearDegree+PostGraduate

TooQuickly 44.0 46.1 43.5 42.5RightPace 28.0 25.8 30.9 26.5TooSlowly 28.0 28.1 25.7 31.0

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Table4revealsthattheredonotappeartoexistanynotabledifferencesinrespondentopinionvis-à-vistherelaxationofCOVID-19restrictionsandsocialdistancingrequirementsbasedoneducation.Theproportionsofeachofthethreeeducationalgroupsthatbelievethepaceisgoingtooquickly,tooslowlyandattherightpacearesubstantivelysimilar.TOPPRIORITYFORTHECOUNTRY:THEECONOMYVS.SLOWINGTHESPREADTherespondentswereaskedtochoosebetweentwooptionsforwhattheyconsideredthetoppriorityforthecountryshouldbenow:Option1:Trytogettheeconomygoingbysendingpeoplebacktowork,evenifitmeansmorepeoplemightbeexposedtotheCoronavirus;Option2:TrytoslowthespreadoftheCoronavirusbykeepingpeoplehomeandsocialdistancing,eveniftheeconomyishurt.Texansasagrouparesplitrightdownthemiddleonthisissue,with52.1%listingthesecondoptionofslowingthespreadoftheCoronavirusasthetoppriorityand47.9%listingthefirstoptionofgettingtheeconomygoingasthetoppriority.Table5.Ethnicity/RaceandtheTopPriorityfortheCountry(%)Response Overall Anglos Hispanics African

AmericansSlowtheSpreadofCoronavirus

52.1 40.2 66.1 77.7

GettheEconomyGoing

47.9 59.8 33.9 22.3

Table5underscorestheexistenceofverystrongethnic/racialdifferencesregardingwhetherthecountryshouldprioritizetheeconomyorslowingthespreadoftheCoronavirus.AnotablemajorityofAnglos(59.8%)thinkthatgettingtheeconomygoingshouldbethetopprioritywhiletothecontraryanevenlargerproportionofHispanics(66.1%),andastilllargerproportionAfricanAmericans(77.7%),believethatslowingthespreadofthevirusshouldbethecountry’stoppriority.Table6.GenderandtheTopPriorityfortheCountry(%)Response Overall Women MenSlowtheSpreadofCoronavirus

52.1 58.6 44.2

GettheEconomyGoing

47.9 41.4 55.8

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WhilenotaspronouncedasthedifferencesbetweenAnglosandnon-AnglosseeninTable5,Table6neverthelessrevealssignificantgenderdifferencesinregardtothetoppriorityforthecountry.Amajorityofwomen(58.6%)believeslowingtheCoronavirus’sspreadshouldbethecountry’stopprioritywhileamajorityofmen(55.8%)believegettingtheeconomygoingshouldbethetoppriority.Table7.GenerationandtheTopPriorityfortheCountry(%)Response Overall SilentGeneration&

BabyBoomersGenerationX Millenials&

GenerationZSlowtheSpreadofCoronavirus

52.1 47.2 60.5 53.8

GettheEconomyGoing

47.9 52.8 39.5 46.2

Table7presentsrelativelylimiteddifferencesinthetoppriorityforthecountryamongthethreegenerationalgroups.TheonlynoteworthygenerationaldifferenceisthatfoundbetweentheSilentGeneration&BabyBoomersononehand,whoareequallysplitbetweenthosewhoprioritizetheslowingthespreadoftheCoronavirus(47.2%)andthosewhoviewgettingtheeconomygoingasthetoppriority(52.8%),andtheirgenerationalneighbors,GenerationX,themembersofwhichprioritizeslowingthespreadofthevirus(60.5%)overgettingtheeconomygoing(39.5%)byanotablemargin.Table8.EducationandtheTopPriorityfortheCountry(%)Response Overall Primary+

HighSchoolSomeCollege+2YearDegree

4YearDegree+PostGraduate

SlowtheSpreadofCoronavirus

52.1 53.1 50.5 52.6

GettheEconomyGoing

47.9 46.9 49.5 47.4

Table8indicatesthattheredonotexistanynotabledifferencesbasedoneducationalattainmentinregardtotheprioritizationofslowingthespreadoftheCoronavirusvs.gettingtheeconomygoing.GOINGBACKTOWORK?Respondentswhohavegonebacktoworkoutsideoftheirhomewereaskedtheextenttowhichtheyagreedwiththestatementthattheywouldhavepreferredtohavewaitedtogobacktowork,butforfinancialreasonsfelttheyhadnochoicebuttoreturntowork.Respondentsweregiventheoptionsofstronglyagree,agree,

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neitheragreenordisagree,disagree,andstronglydisagree.Forthepurposesofthisanalysisthetwoagreeanddisagreecategoriesarerespectivelymergedtocreateathree-pointscaleofagree,neither(agreenordisagree),anddisagree.Overall35.4%oftherespondentsagreedwiththestatement,40.1%disagreed,and24.4%neitheragreednordisagreed.Table9.Ethnicity/Race&GoingBacktoWork(%)Response Overall Anglos Hispanics African

AmericansAgree 35.4 28.3 42.5 39.7Neither 24.4 24.2 19.7 38.3Disagree 40.1 47.3 37.9 21.9Table9signalsthatHispanics(42.5%)andtoalesserextentAfricanAmericans(39.7%)aresignificantlymorelikelytoagreethanAnglos(28.3%)thattheywouldhavepreferredtohavewaitedtogobacktoworkoutsideofthehomebutfelttheyhadtoforfinancialreasons,justasAnglos(47.3%)aresignificantlymorelikelythanHispanics(37.9%)andespeciallyAfricanAmericans(21.9%)todisagreewiththestatement.Table10.Gender&GoingBacktoWork(%)Response Overall Women MenAgree 35.4 42.1 28.3Neither 24.4 26.6 22.1Disagree 40.1 31.4 49.6Table10highlightsstronggenderdifferencesinagreementwiththestatement,withwomen(42.1%)significantlymorelikelytoagreewiththestatementthanmen(28.3%),andmen(49.6%)significantlymorelikelythanwomen(31.4%)todisagreewiththestatement.Table11.Generation&GoingBacktoWork(%)Response Overall SilentGeneration

&BabyBoomersGenerationX Millenials&

GenerationZAgree 35.4 39.0 32.2 35.7Neither 24.4 22.7 31.5 19.6Disagree 40.1 38.3 36.3 44.7Table11revealsthatgenerationaldifferencesarelargelyabsentinregardtotherespondents’agreementordisagreementwiththestatement.AsimilarlackofdifferencesbasedoneducationisillustratedinTable12,withthepartialexceptionofanotabledifferencebetweenthosewithaprimaryorhighschooleducation

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(45.3%)beingsomewhatmorelikelytodisagreewiththestatementthanthosewithsomecollegeoratwo-yeardegree(35.8%).Table12.Education&GoingBacktoWork(%)Response Overall Primary+

HighSchoolSomeCollege+2YearDegree

4YearDegree+PostGraduate

Agree 35.4 35.1 38.7 32.7Neither 24.4 19.7 25.5 27.1Disagree 40.1 45.3 35.8 40.2MASKWEARINGBEHAVIORBYTEXANSOneofthemostvisibleelementsofthebattleagainstCOVID-19inTexasisthewearingofamaskwhenoutsideofthehome.Wequeriedrespondentsaboutwhethertheywereextremelylikely,likely,unlikely,orveryunlikelytowearamaskwhentheyenteredaseriesofdifferentlocations:agrocerystore,anindoor(non-grocery)retailestablishment,anoutdoorretailestablishment,aplaceofworship,afriend’shome,arelative’shome,arestaurant,apublicpark,andagym.Therespondentswerealsogiventheoptionofrespondingthattheywerenotgoingtothelocationthesedays.Table13containstheresultsfortheentirepopulation.Foreachoftheninelocationsthefirstrowcontainstheproportionsforallrespondentsandthesecondrowcontainstheproportionsforthosewhoaregoingtothelocationatthepresenttime(thatisexcludingthosewhoarenotgoingtothelocationthesedays).

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Table13.LikelihoodofUsingMaskWhenEnteringLocation(%)Location Extremely

LikelyLikely Unlikely Extremely

UnlikelyNotGoingTheseDays

GroceryStore

73.5 14.9 3.5 3.3 4.9

GroceryStoreShoppers

77.3 15.6 3.7 3.4

OtherIndoorRetail

58.9 18.5 4.5 4.2 14.0

OtherIndoorRetailShoppers

68.4 21.5 5.2 4.9

OutdoorRetail

39.3 18.6 12.6 10.2 19.3

OutdoorRetailShoppers

48.7 23.0 15.6 12.7

PlaceofWorship

35.9 12.5 4.8 6.7 40.0

PlaceofWorshipAttendees

59.9 20.9 8.1 11.2

Friend’sHome

18.2 14.4 17.8 20.2 29.5

Friend’sHomeVisitors

25.9 20.4 25.2 28.6

Relative’sHome

17.9 14.3 21.3 23.7 22.8

Relative’sHomeVisitors

23.2 18.5 27.6 30.7

Restaurant 39.0 17.0 7.9 7.2 29.0RestaurantPatrons

54.9 23.9 11.1 10.1

PublicPark 22.0 11.6 17.4 26.7 22.9PublicParkVisitors

28.5 15.0 22.5 34.6

Gym 26.1 8.8 2.7 6.2 56.3GymPatrons

59.6 20.1 6.1 14.2

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Figure1displaysthepercentageofthoseindividualswhoaregoingtotherespectivelocationthesedayswhoareextremelylikelytowearamaskwhenenteringthelocation.Morethanthreeoutoffourindividualswhoenteragrocerystore(77%)areextremelylikelytowearamaskwhenentering,followedinfrequencybythoseenteringotherindoorretailestablishments(68%),attendingworship(60%),workingoutatagym(60%),patronizingarestaurant(55%),andshoppingatanoutdoorretailestablishment(49%).Incontrast,onlyaroundoneinfourrespondentswasextremelylikelytowearamaskwhenenteringarelative’shome(23%)orafriend’shome(26%),proportionsthatareevenslightlylowerthanthosewhoareextremelylikelytowearamaskwhenenteringapublicpark(29%).

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Figure2providessomethingofaflip-sidetoFigure1,containingtheproportionofrespondentswhoreportedthattheywereeitherunlikelyorveryunlikelytowearamaskwhenenteringthelocation.Morethanhalfofthesurveyrespondentsareunlikelytowearamaskwhenenteringarelative’shome(58%),visitingapublicpark(57%),andenteringafriend’shome(54%).Attheotherendofthespectrumonlyoneintenrespondentswasunlikelytowearamaskwhenenteringagrocerystore(7%)orother(non-grocery)indoorretailestablishment(10%),andonlyoneinfivewasunlikelytowearamaskwhenenteringaplaceofworship(19%),agym(20%),orarestaurant(21%).Theresultsabovesuggestthatasignificantshareofthepopulationispotentiallyplacingthemselvesandothersatsubstantiallygreaterriskwhenvisitingthehomesoffriendsorrelatives,especiallyiftheyarenotcertainthatboththeyandtheirfriendsorrelativesarenotinfectedwiththeCOVID-19virus.

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Finally,Figure3liststheproportionofindividualswhoatthepresenttimearenotvisitingtherespectivelocation.Morethanhalfofrespondents(56%)arenotvisitinggymsand40%notvisitingplacesofworship.Attheotherendofthespectrum,only5%ofthepopulationisnotvisitinggrocerystoresandonly14%isnotvisitingotherindoorretailestablishments.Belowweexaminemask-wearingpracticeswhenenteringfourkeylocations(GroceryStores,PlacesofWorship,Friend’sHome,Relative’sHome)brokendownbyethnicity/race,gender,generation,andeducation.Thefocusisonthepercentageofthoseenteringthelocation,butwealsoprovideinaseparatecolumntheproportionofrespondentswhoarenotgoingtothelocationthesedays.Table14breaksdownmaskwearingbehaviorbyethnicity/raceforthestate’sthreemostprominentethnic/racialgroups:Anglos(non-HispanicWhites),Hispanics,andAfricanAmericans.Ethnic/racialdifferencesarerelativelymoderateinregardtomaskwearingbehavioratgrocerystores,butwithanotablegapexistingbetweenthosewhoareextremelylikelytowearmasks,withonly73.1%ofAnglosextremelylikelytowearamaskcomparedto85.9%ofAfricanAmericans.Differencesrelatedtoattendanceofhousesofworshiparemoreevenmorenotable,withAfricanAmericans(81.0%)

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mostlikelytowearmaskswhenenteringandAnglos(51.7%)leastlikely,withHispanics(64.1%)inbetweenthesetwoextremes.Farmoresubstantialdifferenceshoweverexistinbehaviorwhenenteringafriend’shomeorarelative’shome.Anglosaresignificantlylesslikelytowearamaskwhenenteringafriendorrelative’shousethaneitherHispanicsorAfricanAmericans,andinturnHispanicsaresignificantlylesslikelytowearamaskwhenenteringafriendorrelative’shomethanareAfricanAmericans.Forexample,69.9%and75.6%ofAnglosareeitherunlikelyorveryunlikelytowearamaskwhenenteringafriendorrelative’shomerespectively.Thiscontrastswith39.6%and40.6%ofHispanicswhoareunlikelyorveryunlikelytowearamaskwhenenteringafriend’shomeorarelative’shomerespectively,and11.6%and16.7%ofAfricanAmericanswhorespectivelyareunlikelyorveryunlikelytowearamaskwhenenteringafriend’sorrelative’shome.Table14:Ethnic/RaceandMaskWearingWhenEnteringaLocation(%)Location Ethnicity/Race Extremely

LikelyLikely Unlikely Very

UnlikelyNotGoing

GroceryStore

Anglos 73.1 17.7 5.5 3.7 (5.4)

Hispanics 81.3 14.8 1.0 2.9 (2.4) African

Americans85.9 10.0 1.0 3.2 (2.1)

PlaceofWorship

Anglos 51.7 22.2 12.1 14.0 (41.7)

Hispanics 64.1 26,8 3.5 5.6 (39.7) African

Americans81.0 9.5 2.9 6.6 (39.7)

Friend’sHome

Anglos 15.0 15.2 30.7 39.2 (27.1)

Hispanics 37.1 23.3 24.2 15.4 (37.9) African

Americans52.1 36.4 5.8 5.8 (20.3)

Relative’sHome

Anglos 13.6 10.7 32.7 42.9 (20.3)

Hispanics 35.2 24.2 23.9 16.7 (29.7) African

Americans42.1 41.2 12.4 4.3 (14.7)

Table15breaksdownmaskwearingbehaviorbygender.Womenaremoderatelymoreapttobemorelikelytowearamaskwhenenteringthehomeofafriendor

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relativethanaremen,whilemenweremoderatelymoreunlikelytowearamaskwhenenteringthosesametwolocations.Table15:GenderandMaskWearingWhenEnteringaLocation(%)Location Gender Extremely

LikelyLikely Unlikely Very

UnlikelyNotGoing

GroceryStore

Women 80.5 12.2 4.0 3.3 (5.9)

Men 73.5 19.7 3.2 3.6 (3.6) PlaceofWorship

Women 66.9 15.6 6.8 10.6 (43.7)

Men 52.4 26.5 9.4 11.8 (35.5) Friend’sHouse

Women 32.5 21.4 21.9 24.2 (34.5)

Men 19.0 19.3 28.5 33.2 (23.3) Relative’sHouse

Women 27.5 19.1 26.0 27.4 (24.3)

Men 18.1 17.9 29.5 34.6 (21.1)Table16breaksdownmaskwearingbehaviorbygeneration.Overallthereareveryfewsignificantdifferencesinmaskwearingbehavioracrossthethreegenerationalgroups(SilentGeneration+BabyBoomers,GenerationX,Millenials+GenerationZ).Theoneexceptionisrelatedtothoseextremelylikelytowearamaskwhenenteringaplaceofworship,whereMillenialsandGenerationZmemberswerenotablylesslikelythanmembersoftheothertwogenerationalgroupstobeextremelylikelytowearamask.Otherthanthatoneinstance,therewerenosignificantgenerationaldifferencesinmaskwearingbehavior.Table16:GenerationandMaskWearingWhenEnteringaLocation(%)Location Generation Extremely

LikelyLikely Unlikely Very

UnlikelyNotGoing

GroceryStore

Silent+Boomers

80.3 14.8 3.0 2.0 (4.2)

Gen.X 77.3 13.9 4.6 4.3 (3.1) Millenials+

Gen.Z72.6 18.2 4.1 5.2 (7.0)

PlaceofWorship

Silent+Boomers

63.5 22.0 8.2 6.4 (42.6)

Gen.X 65.9 11.1 10.4 12.6 (35.9)

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Millenials+Gen.Z

49.6 25.8 6.6 18.1 (38.9)

Friend’sHome

Silent+Boomers

24.7 20.3 27.2 27.8 (31.1)

Gen.X 27.5 18.9 23.7 29.8 (29.1) Millenials+

Gen.Z26.4 21.5 23.2 28.9 (27.4)

Relative’sHome

Silent+Boomers

22.1 19.1 27.1 31.7 (22.4)

Gen.X 27.2 15.6 29.6 27.7 (25.1) Millenials+

Gen.Z22.2 19.7 26.9 31.3 (21.8)

Table17breaksdownmask-wearingbehaviorbytherespondents’highestlevelofeducationalattainment.Asthetablemakesabundantlyclear,thereexistnosignificantdifferencesinmaskwearingbehavioracrossmembersofthethreedifferenteducationalattainmentgroups(primaryandhighschool,somecollegeandatwo-yeardegree,afour-yeardegreeandpostgraduatestudy).Table17:EducationandMaskWearingWhenEnteringaLocation(%)Location Education Extremely

LikelyLikely Unlikely Very

UnlikelyNotGoing

GroceryStore

Primary+HighSchool

76.7 14.4 5.8 3.1 (3.9)

SomeCollege+2Year

73.8 20.4 2.2 3.6 (3.7)

4Year+PostGraduate

80.6 12.8 3.2 3.5 (6.5)

PlaceofWorship

Primary+HighSchool

61.9 16.7 6.0 15.4 (40.9)

SomeCollege+2Year

57.8 19.0 13.4 9.7 (41.5)

4Year+PostGraduate

59.9 25.3 5.6 9.2 (38.3)

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Friend’sHome

Primary+HighSchool

29.6 19.6 23.0 27.9 (28.4)

SomeCollege+2Year

23.7 19.6 26.2 30.5 (27.2)

4Year+PostGraduate

24.7 21.7 26.0 27.6 (32.0)

Relative’sHome

Primary+HighSchool

26.1 24.3 22.1 27.5 (18.8)

SomeCollege+2Year

22.1 15.9 30.7 31.2 (22.0)

4Year+PostGraduate

21.7 15.8 29.5 33.0 (26.5)

POSITIVECOVID-19TESTANDETHNICITY/RACETable18containsinformationontheproportionofrespondentswhoreportedthateithertheyoranimmediatefamilymemberhastestedpositiveforCOVID-19.Alltogether18.0%oftherespondentsreportedthateithertheyoranimmediatefamilymemberhadtestedpositivevs.82.0%whoindicatedthatneithertheynoranimmediatefamilymemberhadtestedpositiveforCOVID-19.ThetablereinforcestheconclusionsgleanedfromofficialTexaspublichealthdatathatHispanicsandAfricanAmericanshavebeenmorelikelytotestpositiveforCOVID-19thanAnglos,with29.4%and23.7%ofHispanicsandAfricanAmericansreportingpositiveCOVID-19testswithintheirimmediatefamilycomparedto12.3%ofAnglos.Table18:PositiveCOVID-19Test&Ethnicity/Race(%)PositiveTest Overall Anglos Hispanics African

AmericansYes 18.0 12.3 29.4 23.7No 82.0 87.3 70.6 76.4MAILBALLOTSINTEXASINTHEMIDSTOFTHECOVID-19PANDEMICAgreatdealofenergyonbothsidesofthepoliticalaislehasbeendevotedtothetopicofprovidingmailballotstothoseindividualswhofearthatvotingin-personcouldcausethemtocontractCOVID-19andindoingsoputtheirhealthaswellasthehealthoftheirfamilymembersatrisk.Theveryvalidargumentmadeby

17

proponentsofmoreexpansivemailballotoptionsisthatpeopleshouldnotbeforcedtohavetochoosebetweenprotectingtheirandtheirfamily’shealthandexercisingtheirrightofsuffrage.InTexas,stateandcountyofficialshavehighlightedanumberofmeasurestheyhavetakentomakein-personvotingsaferthisyearincludingtheextensionoftheearlyvotingperiod,greaterspacingbetweenvotingmachines,fingergloves,andthefrequentsanitizingofvotingmachinesandpollinglocations.Together,thesemeasuresarguablymakevotingin-personnotablysaferthangoingtothegrocerystore.ReferringbacktoTable13,weknowthatonly4.9%oftherespondents(allofwhomareregisteredvoters)arenotgoingtothegrocerystorethesedays.Theseindividualswouldappeartobeengagedintheformofextremesocialdistancingthatwouldsuggestthattheytrulybelievethatvotingin-personwouldrepresentaserioushealthrisktoeitherthemand/orsomeonewithwhomtheylive.Furthermore,inTexasthosewhoare65andoldercanrequestamailballotforanyreason.Whentheyareexcluded,thatdropstooverallproportionofTexasregisteredvoterswhoarequitelikelyadverselyaffectedbythedecisiontonotallowvoterstorequestamailballotduetofearofcontractingCOVID-19to3.4%.Theproportionof3.4%isnotalargenumber,suggestingthatrelativelyfewTexansaretrulybeingputinapositionofchoosingbetweentheirhealthandtheirrightofsuffrage.Thatsaid,theproportionisalsonot0.0%,indicatingthatabout1inevery33Texasvoterswillquitepossiblybeforcedthisfalltochoosebetweenengaginginpracticesthattheybelievesafeguardtheirortheirfamily’shealthandcastingavoteinoneofthemostconsequentialelectionsinrecentmemory.Thepopulationof3.4%istoosmalltoprovideanyaccurateanalysis,butwiththatverysubstantialcaveatinmind,weprovidetheethnic/racialbreakdownofthisgroupof3.4%aswellastheirpresidentialandU.S.Senatevotepreferences.Theethnic/racialbreakdownis:Anglo(48.5%),Latino(16.9%),AfricanAmerican(8.6%)andOthers(26.0%).Thepresidentialvotedistributionis51.9%forDemocratJoeBiden,24.1%forRepublicanDonaldTrump,9.7%forGreenHowieHawkinsand14.4%unsure.TheTexasU.S.Senatevotechoiceis61.6%forDemocratMJHegar,36.0%forRepublicanJohnCornyn,and2.4%unsure.Aswasalreadymentioned,thesmallsizeofthispopulationrendersanydataanalysisinconclusive.Thatsaid,thesedatadoatleasttendtosuggestthepossibilitythatifthissmallsub-groupofTexanschoosestoprioritizetheirhealthovervotingin-personthisfall,theRepublicansTrumpandCornynwouldbeadvantagedwhiletheDemocratsBidenandHegarwouldbedisadvantaged.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Hon. Jason

Villalba

Chairman of the

Board of Directors

Hon. Hope

Andrade

Board Member

Hon. Carlos

Cascos

Board Member

Hon. Leticia

Van De Putte

Board Member

Regina

Montoya

Board Member

Robert A.

Estrada

Board Member

Hon. Sarah

Saldaña

Board Member

Trey

Newton

Board Member

David

Cabrales

Board Member

Hon.

Victor Leal Board Member

OFFICERS

Hon. Jason

Villalba

President

Trey

Newton

Chief Executive

Officer

Dr. Mark

Jones, Ph.D. Director of Research

and Analytics

Jessica

Coggins

Executive Director

ABOUT THE TEXAS HISPANIC POLICY FOUNDATION

The Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation operates as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization,

dedicated and committed to analyzing and exploring the political, economic, social, demographic,

and familial attitudes, and behaviors of Texas Hispanics. In collaboration with Rice University

and the Baker Institute for Public Policy, the Foundation conducts surveys, polls, research, data

collection and analysis concerning the Hispanic population in Texas. You can find more

information about the Foundation at www.TxHPF.org.