With Election Day days away, experts say female voters could decide tight statewide races across Texas. New Texas Southern University polling shows nearly all statewide races are close. AP VoteCast data shows a shift in how Texas women are casting ballots.
ABC13 spoke with suburban female voters in Meadows Place on Thursday. They named the economy and gas prices as the top issues. Rice University political science professor Mark Jones said abortion, once a major issue, has faded and the economy is now driving voters. He said higher prices could hurt Republicans if women blame the party, since female voters have recently trended toward Democrats.
AP VoteCast data shows white college-educated women largely backed Republican John Cornyn in his Senate reelection six years ago, then broke for the Democratic candidate two years ago. Jones said strong disapproval of Donald Trump among college-educated women is hurting him among suburban women. AP data shows Republicans had a 12-point advantage among suburban men two years ago, and experts say that may not be enough to offset the female vote.