Dr. Tracy Ayrhart

Dr. Tracy Ayrhart

Vice President of Data and Research

Dr. Tracy Ayrhart serves as Vice President of Data and Research at Texas 2036, where she leads the organization's strategy to deliver trusted, actionable data and insights that help Texas leaders plan for the state's long-term future.

Posts

voter poll explainer and why it matters blog

What the Texas 2036 Voter Poll is, And Why It Is Important

September 24, 2026

Texas 2036’s 10th wave of the Texas Voter Poll was released earlier this week. Here is some context about the poll and why it matters. What Makes our Poll Unique Voter polls — especially ones administered close to an election — tend to focus on which candidate a voter is more likely to vote for,…

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Texas Voters Confident in State’s Economic Future

September 15, 2026

This is a preview of our Texas 2036 newsletter discussing Texans’ confidence in the state’s economic future and a data analysis of workforce trends in the state. To receive this weekly look at our work, sign up here. Texas Is Adding Jobs, But Not Everywhere Texas has an established reputation as a job dynamo. But…

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Poll: Voters Confident in Texas’ Economic Future

September 15, 2026
Texas voters are concerned about the future, but they remain bullish on the Texas economy. A new Texas 2036 statewide voter poll finds two-thirds (68%) of Texas voters are extremely or very concerned about the future of the state. Yet by nearly three to one, voters say Texas will have the stronger economy over the...
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New report spotlights a hidden cost of homeownership

August 10, 2026

Housing affordability conversations usually center on home prices, mortgage rates and property taxes. None are the fastest-growing fixed cost of owning a Texas home. In our statewide poll last fall, nearly four in five Texas voters said their property insurance costs had gone up over the past five years. After adjusting for inflation, homeowners insurance…

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How to Read Your Child’s STAAR Results: A Step-by-Step Guide

June 16, 2026

Dr. Tracy Ayrhart is parent of two public elementary school students and vice president of Data and Research at Texas 2036. Spring STAAR End-of-Course results became available to families through the online Family Portal on June 10, 2026, with grades 3–8 following on June 16, 2026. When yours arrive, this is the walkthrough I use…

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What Your Child’s STAAR Results Actually Mean (A Parent’s Guide)

June 16, 2026

Dr. Tracy Ayrhart is a parent of two public elementary school students and vice president of Data and Research at Texas 2036. Like a lot of Texas parents, I’ll be logging into the Family Portal in mid-June to look at my kids’ STAAR results. One just finished third grade, the other just finished fifth. It’s…

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