When it comes to controversial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies being utilized in Texas taxpayer-funded universities, a new poll reveals Texas Republicans believe funding should be pulled from institutions implementing woke policies.
With DEI becoming a more prominent issue in taxpayer-funded state universities, a newly released poll collected by CWS Research and commissioned by Defend Texas Liberty shows 72 percent of Republican voters in Texas disapprove of their tax dollars going to such universities.
The polltakers’ disapproval for taxpayer-funded DEI was also evident when they indicated who they would vote for if the Republican presidential primary were held today; the two top vote-getters have been deeply involved in blocking DEI.
Forty-three percent of the voters said they would vote for President Donald Trump, a large increase in approval since DTL’s January poll.
During his time as president, Trump issued an executive order banning DEI training in government agencies and federal contractors. This halted DEI training and policies in several universities.
In Trump’s executive order, it was written that “DEI trainings promote divisiveness and distract from the pursuit of excellence.” President Joe Biden reversed Trump’s executive order in 2021, but Trump has remained steadily against DEI.
The second top vote recipient was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with 27 percent of the vote, a slight decrease from the DTL’s January poll, which had him at 35 percent.
DeSantis recently announced his backing of Florida legislation that would eliminate DEI from college curricula. This legislation just advanced through the Florida House of Representatives and is going to be heard in the Florida Senate.
“We are … going to eliminate all DEI … in the state of Florida. No funding. And that will wither on the vine,” said DeSantis.
DeSantis has also hosted roundtable discussions exposing the real reason liberals push the “DEI scam” in higher education.
Voters were also surveyed on whether they think the Texas Legislature should pass something similar to the DeSantis-backed Florida legislation that would require every employer to use the E-Verify system and make it a felony to use false identification to obtain employment.
An overwhelming 82 percent of respondents said yes to the question, with only 7 percent in direct opposition.
The entire poll may be viewed here.
