The 45th Kinder Houston Area Survey, conducted by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, has found that while opinions vary on major policy questions, there is widespread agreement on gun policy. Support for universal background checks is nearly unanimous, with 94-95% of residents across all counties in favor. However, attitudes towards other policies are more divided, including allowing teachers or administrators to carry guns in schools. The survey also found consistent majority support for recreational marijuana legalization across all three counties. The death penalty support in the Houston area has decreased significantly over the past decades, with support for the death penalty dropping from 80% to about two-thirds of residents in 2026.