HOUSTON – A new snapshot from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University offers a detailed look at how residents across the Houston region view some of today’s most debated political and social issues.
Survey Snapshot 4 from the 45th Kinder Houston Area Survey is based on responses from more than 8,800 residents.
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The data reveals that while opinions vary, there is broad agreement on many major policy questions.
MAIN ARTICLE: 2026 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey identifies Houstonians’ feelings on economy, environment, social issues
Gun Policy
On gun policy, the survey reveals one of the clearest areas of consensus.
Support for universal background checks is nearly unanimous, with 94–95% of residents across all counties in favor. Houstonians’ level of agreement on this issue has grown over time.
At the same time, attitudes toward other policies are more divided:
- Majorities in Harris and Fort Bend counties oppose allowing teachers or administrators to carry guns in schools
- Montgomery County residents lean the opposite direction, with a majority supporting it
Importantly, the data shows that most residents do not see gun policy as an either/or issue. Instead, they simultaneously value:
- The right to own firearms
- The need for reasonable regulation
Death Penalty
Support for the death penalty in the Houston area has fallen significantly over the past several decades.
Support has dropped from roughly 80% in the 1990s to about two-thirds of residents in 2026.
While that still represents a clear majority, the survey indicates that:
- The long-term decline has leveled off in recent years
- Attitudes have largely stabilized
- Harris County has seen a slight increase in support since the mid-2010s
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Book Bans
Across all three counties, large majorities oppose banning books from public libraries, even when the material is controversial or mature.
Opposition to book bans stands at:
- 69% in Harris County
- 67% in Fort Bend County
- 73% in Montgomery County
The survey also shows that resistance to book bans has grown steadily over time, reflecting a long-term shift toward supporting access to information.
Education Funding
Residents across the region continue to show strong support for increased public education funding.
Majorities in all three counties say schools need more financial support:
- Harris County: 64%
- Fort Bend County: about 60%
- Montgomery County: about 55%
However, support becomes more mixed when tied to taxation. While a majority still backs raising taxes to fund universal pre-K programs, that support has declined since 2018.
- Harris County: 60%
- Fort Bend County: 54%
- Montgomery County: 52%
Marijuana Legalization
For the first time, the survey measured attitudes toward recreational marijuana legalization across all three counties—and found consistent majority support.
This marks a significant shift for an issue that was once far more divisive:
- Harris County: 67% support legalization
- Montgomery County: 64%
- Fort Bend County: 58%