Texas voters are worried about affordability across the board heading into the 2026 elections, with the cost of healthcare, food, and housing among the top issues on their mind. 

Some 9 out of 10 registered voters in the state overwhelmingly said they are most concerned about the price of goods and services when it comes to the economy, according to a recent survey by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. Almost 90% of respondents said they are at least somewhat concerned about the cost of healthcare, while about 80% said they are worried about housing costs or unemployment.

According to the poll, conducted from December 9 – 16, 2025, inflation, higher prices, and the economy are among the top problems facing both the country and state. The only issue that ranked higher was “political corruption/leadership.” 

Democrats have started emphasizing the affordability issue as the midterm election approaches. The Texas Democratic Party criticized Republicans over the holidays, blaming the GOP for “increased prices across the board, making your holidays a little less bright!” 

On the campaign trail, Texas Democrats have continued to hammer the issue. 

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat running for governor, has highlighted the barriers to home ownership, while Colin Allred, who is looking to reclaim a seat in the U.S. House, highlighted rising energy costs. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who is running for the U.S. Senate, made lowering the cost of living a key aspect of her campaign launch last month. 

“My agenda is affordability,” she told a Dallas crowd in December. “When prices are lower, the dollar goes further. Consumers have more confidence and spending power. Businesses thrive and our economy is healthy.”

“My whole platform is rooted in my belief that life should be more affordable for those who make America run,” Crockett added. 

Meanwhile, Republicans have said they don’t think that voters will buy what Democrats are selling this election season

“Look at every state that is governed by a Democrat, and look at what affordability looks like there. Look at California. Look at New York. Look at Illinois,” Gov. Greg Abbott told Texas Bullpen in a podcast interview. “The worst horror stories about affordability are in either cities or states that are governed by Democrats.”

“If a Democrat says they’re trying to make your life more affordable, know they are reaching into your wallet to take money out of it,” Abbott continued. “What we implement in our policies in Texas makes the cost of living go down.”

Abbott, who has served as governor since 2015, also said that his plan to reduce property taxes would cut costs for Texans in half, making home ownership more affordable. Plans to reduce the cost of home and auto insurance were also in the works.

Giving the cost of childcare as a case study for the contrast between the solutions advanced by Republicans and Democrats, Abbott accused the latter  of simply wanting to throw more tax dollars at it. Last year, the Economic Policy Institute found that the average annual cost for infant care in Texas was more than $10,000, making it 11.6% of the median household income. 

“What I have already done is I’ve signed legislation that has slashed hundreds of regulations that make it easier and less costly for child care providers to exist, making them able to reduce the cost they’re charging to parents,” he said. 

Watch the full Texas Bullpen podcast with Gov. Abbott here.