Voters' Views of Civility in Texas Politics

The perceived decline of civility in politics has simultaneously united and divided American voters; while many believe that the rise of incivility is a serious problem, Americans cannot agree on what is causing it. Though the focus on the topic of civility has often been criticized as misguided, polls show that the issue continues to weigh heavily on voters' minds. According to a UT Tyler poll of Texas voters, age, race, and policy preference all play a significant role in predicting how strongly a voter will feel about the problem of incivility in politics. The gaps among these demographic groups' opinions illustrate a fundamental tension in how Americans view the nature of the debate over civility.