Six in 10 Texas Voters Cite Health Care as Most or Very Important Issue in Senate Race

Voters Oppose Cruz-GOP Repeal and Sabotage Efforts, Including GOP’s Lawsuit Targeting Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions

Public Policy Polling Survey Has Race a Dead Heat: Cruz 48, Beto 45

Washington, DC – A new Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey commissioned by Protect Our Care finds that 62 percent of voters in Texas say health care will be one of the most important issues they consider when casting their vote in November. What’s more, 44 percent are deeply concerned about Senator Ted Cruz’s work to repeal health care and nearly 60 percent oppose the Trump Administration’s lawsuit to end protections for those with pre-existing conditions, which Cruz has refused to oppose.

The poll shows that for Cruz, who has been among the GOP’s fiercest advocates for repealing the American health care law, the issue is a drag on his prospects for reelection. In the poll, Cruz is in a dead heat against Democrat Beto O’Rourke 48 (Cruz) to 45 (O’Rourke). The poll was conducted September 19th and 20th among 613 Texas registered voters. The survey has a margin of sampling error of +/- 4 percent.

“Ted Cruz thought he was going to score political points shutting the government down trying to repeal health care, but what he actually did was put his own reelection prospects in serious jeopardy. Ted Cruz’s constituents say health care is one of the most important issues to them this election, and as a result he’s taking on some pretty serious water in this race. Whether it is Cruz’s opposition to protections for people with pre-existing conditions or his vote for an age tax, Ted Cruz’s extreme health care views are rejected by his constituents.”

Key Findings from the Poll:

Sixty-two percent of voters say health care is the most important or a very important issue for them this election.

Sixty-two percent of voters say the elimination of protections for people with pre-existing conditions, supported by Ted Cruz, is “a major concern.”

Texas voters oppose the Texas attorney general and Trump administration’s lawsuit to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions by a 40 point margin, 59 percent to 19 percent.

Sixty percent of voters say the “Age Tax” supported by Ted Cruz is “a major concern.”

Nearly half (49 percent) of Texas voters oppose repealing the Affordable Care Act and instead want to keep what works and fix what doesn’t.

The survey finds Cruz and O’Rourke in a dead heat, with 48 percent of voters supporting Cruz, 45 percent supporting O’Rourke and eight percent undecided.

What Would Repeal of Health Care in Texas Mean?

It would undo protections for 11,579,100 Texans with pre-existing conditions if they buy coverage on their own

Marketplace tax credits and coverage for up to 963,000 Texans would disappear

Full repeal would end improvements to Medicare, including reduced costs for prescription drugs

No more allowing kids to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26

Insurance companies could once again impose annual and lifetime limits on coverage

Insurance companies could also once again discriminate against women

Limits on out-of-pocket costs would be eliminated

Rules to hold insurance companies accountable would disappear

Small business tax credits would be eliminated

You can read the full polling results here.