Most Texas voters still consider the state a good place to raise a family. In Texas 2036’s new 2026 statewide poll, 59.8% called Texas better than the rest of the country for raising a family with only 25.5% called it worse.
Voters in both parties share one concern. A solid majority (58.1%), said it is a problem that many Texas families report having fewer children than they want. Texas 2036 did not ask voters why that gap exists, and the reasons families give vary. The poll measures how voters view the gap, not its cause.
Childcare prices are one thing parents point to. In research earlier this year for its report on the state of childcare in Texas, Texas 2036 surveyed Texas parents and held focus groups across the state. Among parents with at least one child under six, 56.7% said the price of childcare had affected their decision about whether to have more children.
Asked how the state should spend limited childcare dollars on children under six, voters leaned toward quality: 44.7% would prioritize higher-quality early education even if fewer families are served, 34.8% would serve more families at lower quality, and 20.5% were unsure. Voter preferences toward an educational quality in this poll matches what Texas 2036 has found in earlier polling on voter opinions for the state’s funding role.
Voters want a system built around parents. A more parent-friendly childcare system would make 69.3% of voters more likely to support a candidate who backed it. For families balancing work and care, the practical details, from hours to paperwork, determine whether the care available is care they can use.
