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

TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017 Released February 1, 2017 Commissioned by: Conducted by:

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

Almost three quarters of voters say that it is more important to continue funding CPRIT than to save tax dollars. “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?” 2014 2016 Don't Know Refused 8% Don't Know 1% 13% Save Taxpayer Dollars Save 17% Taxpayer Dollars 17% Continue Funding Continue 70% Funding 74% TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

An overwhelming number of voters would be more likely to vote for a state legislator who supports funding CPRIT. “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?” 2016 2014 Total More Likely: 74% Total More Likely: 68%* Total Less Likely: 14% Total Less Likely: 14% Don’t Know No 4% Refused Difference No Don’t Know 2%* 6% Difference 7% 10% Much Less Likely 5% Much More Much Less Likely Much More Likely 32% Likely 6% 37% Somewhat Less Likely 9% Somewhat Less Likely 8% Somewhat Somewhat More Likely More Likely 37% 37% *Denotes Rounding TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Voters across the partisan spectrum are more likely to support a state lege candidate who supports continuing the funding. State Lege Vote by Party 2014 +55% +47% +37% +62% +69% 80% 73% 70% 62% 58% 21% 15% 15% 11% 11% 2016 +50% +40% +44% +81% +82% 88% 87% 69% 65% 59% 21% 19% 19% 6% 6% Base GOP Soft/Lean GOP Independent Soft/Lean Democrat Base Democrat (25%) (19%) (18%) (15%) (22%) Total More Likely Total Less Likely TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

A majority of Tea Party supporters say they would be more likely to vote for a pro-funding candidate. By Tea Party 2014 +23% +41% +57% +67% 78% 70% 60% 45% 22% 19% 13% 11% 2016 +35% +40% +71% +64% 80% 78% 60% 58% 23% 20% 14% 9% Strongly Fav Tea Party Somewhat Fav Tea Party Total Unfav Tea Party No Opinion/Don't Know (13%) (14%) (33%) (40%) Total More Likely Total Less Likely TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Texas voters continue to think its very important that the Lone Star State remains a leader in cancer research by funding CPRIT. “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...” 2014 2016 Total Important: 89%* Total Important: 89% Total Not Important: 9% Total Not Important: 10%* Not At All Not At All Don't Know Important Important Not Very 1%* 4% 5% Important Not Very 6% Important 5% Somewhat Important 31% Very Very Important Important 59% 61% Somewhat Important 28% *Denotes Rounding TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

The importance of remaining a national leader in cancer research stretches across party lines. 2014 National Leader by Party +86% +77% +60% +88% +88% 94% 93% 92% 88% 78% 18% 11% 7% 6% 4% 2016 +75% +68% +67% +92% +93% 96% 96% 87% 84% 82% 16% 15% 12% 4% 3% Base GOP Soft/Lean GOP Independent Soft/Lean Democrat Base Democrat (25%) (19%) (18%) (15%) (22%) Total Important Total Not Important TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Across gender/age groups, Texas voters say its important to continue leading the country in cancer prevention research. 2014 National Leader by Gender/Age + Seniors +76% +70% +90% +86% +80% 95% 92% 89% 87% 84% 14% 11% 9% 6% 5% 2016 +80% +65% +90% +81% +75% 95% 90% 90% 86% 82% 17% 11% 10% 9% 5% Men 18-44 Men 45+ Women 18-44 Women 45+ Age 65+ (22%) (25%) (20%) (32%) (20%) Total Important Total Not Important TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017

Cam Scott Senior Director, Texas Government Relations American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 512-919-1804 Cam.Scott@cancer.org TEXAS CANCER POLL 2017