TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017 Released February 1, 2017 Commissioned by: - - PDF document

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Commissioned by: Conducted by:

Released February 1, 2017

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Public Opinion Strategies is pleased to present the key findings of a statewide telephone survey conducted in Texas. The survey was completed December 10-13, 2016, among 800 registered voters, including 320 cell phone respondents, and has a margin of error of +3.46%. Glen Bolger was the principal researcher on this project. Kyle Clark was the project director, and Victoria Van de Vate provided analytical support.

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

About the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)

ACS CAN is the nation’s leading cancer advocacy organization dedicated to making cancer issues a national and state priority. Created in 2001 as the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, ACS CAN educates the public, elected officials, and candidates about cancer’s devastating impact on public health and encourages them to make fighting cancer a top priority.

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

“As you may know, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas will lose its state funding in 2021 after ten years. Do you think it is…more important to continue funding the cancer research and prevention work that the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is doing through state tax dollars, or more important to end the program to save taxpayer dollars?”

Almost three quarters of voters say that it is more important to continue funding CPRIT than to save tax dollars.

Continue Funding 70% Save Taxpayer Dollars 17% Don't Know 13%

2016 2014

Continue Funding 74% Save Taxpayer Dollars 17% Don't Know 8% Refused 1%

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Much More Likely 32% Somewhat More Likely 37% Somewhat Less Likely 8% Much Less Likely 6% No Difference 10% Don’t Know 7%

“As you may know, voters supported ten years of funding for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, which will end in the next few years. Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for your state legislator if they vote to continue state funding for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas beyond the initial ten year-commitment?”

Total More Likely: 68%* Total Less Likely: 14%

2016 2014

*Denotes Rounding

Much More Likely 37% Somewhat More Likely 37% Somewhat Less Likely 9% Much Less Likely 5% No Difference 6% Don’t Know 4% Refused 2%*

Total More Likely: 74% Total Less Likely: 14%

An overwhelming number of voters would be more likely to vote for a state legislator who supports funding CPRIT.

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

70% 62% 58% 73% 80% 15% 15% 21% 11% 11% 69% 59% 65% 87% 88% 19% 19% 21% 6% 6%

Base GOP (25%) Soft/Lean GOP (19%) Independent (18%) Soft/Lean Democrat (15%) Base Democrat (22%) Total More Likely Total Less Likely

State Lege Vote by Party

+50% +40% +44% +81% +82%

2016

+55% +47% +37% +62% +69%

2014

Voters across the partisan spectrum are more likely to support a state lege candidate who supports continuing the funding.

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

45% 60% 70% 78% 22% 19% 13% 11% 58% 60% 80% 78% 23% 20% 9% 14%

Strongly Fav Tea Party (13%) Somewhat Fav Tea Party (14%) Total Unfav Tea Party (33%) No Opinion/Don't Know (40%)

Total More Likely Total Less Likely

By Tea Party 2016 2014

+71% +35% +64%

A majority of Tea Party supporters say they would be more likely to vote for a pro-funding candidate.

+40% +57% +23% +67% +41%

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Very Important 61% Somewhat Important 28% Not Very Important 6% Not At All Important 5% Very Important 59% Somewhat Important 31% Not Very Important 5% Not At All Important 4% Don't Know 1%*

“Thinking about cancer specifically, how important do you think it is for Texas to remain a national leader in cancer research and prevention by providing state funds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas...”

Total Important: 89%* Total Not Important: 9%

2016 2014

Texas voters continue to think its very important that the Lone Star State remains a leader in cancer research by funding CPRIT.

Total Important: 89% Total Not Important: 10%* *Denotes Rounding

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

93% 88% 78% 94% 92% 7% 11% 18% 6% 4% 87% 84% 82% 96% 96% 12% 16% 15% 4% 3%

Base GOP (25%) Soft/Lean GOP (19%) Independent (18%) Soft/Lean Democrat (15%) Base Democrat (22%) Total Important Total Not Important

National Leader by Party

+75% +68% +67% +92% +93%

2016

+86% +77% +60% +88% +88%

2014

The importance of remaining a national leader in cancer research stretches across party lines.

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

87% 84% 95% 92% 89% 11% 14% 5% 6% 9% 90% 82% 95% 90% 86% 10% 17% 5% 9% 11%

Men 18-44 (22%) Men 45+ (25%) Women 18-44 (20%) Women 45+ (32%) Age 65+ (20%) Total Important Total Not Important

National Leader by Gender/Age + Seniors

+80% +65% +90% +81% +75%

2016

+76% +70% +90% +86% +80%

2014

Across gender/age groups, Texas voters say its important to continue leading the country in cancer prevention research.

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Cam Scott Senior Director, Texas Government Relations American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 512-919-1804 Cam.Scott@cancer.org