A new survey commissioned by AARP Texas revealed that 84% of registered voters who are 50-plus will “very likely” vote in the 2023 Houston Mayoral election. The survey also revealed that 89% of those polled want Houston’s next top city leader to address crime and safety, calling those issues “top priorities” for this powerful voting bloc. Another 75% said jobs and the economy are essential to them. These issues will likely influence voting behavior at the polls in city elections this coming November.

“Adults ages 50 and older comprise the largest proportion of the voting population in the Bayou City, and this AARP Survey sheds new light on the powerful influence of these older voters in Houston,” said Tina Tran, State Director for AARP Texas, which commissioned the survey of 805 registered voters aged 50 and older. “The results of this survey give the public and Houston’s elected leaders a better understanding of this powerful group’s needs, wants, and what it will take to make Houston more livable for people of all ages.”

The survey was conducted from August 8 through August 17, 2023. Among its findings:

• 89% of Houston voters aged 50-plus say addressing crime and safety is ‘very important’ and, 75% said addressing jobs and the economy is ‘very important’
• 56% (about half of Houston voters 50-plus) think safety in the City of Houston is decreasing
• 75% of Houston voters 50-plus said utility costs, like water, are also a top priority the future mayor needs to address with 52% of these voters saying they are ‘much more likely’ to vote for a candidate that will work to lower utility bills

“One of the most notable results of this survey is that nearly half (44%) of voters 50-plus considered leaving Houston in the past year because of the perceived increase in violence in the city,” said Tran. “Concerns about flooding, natural disasters and inflation are additional factors for some members of this group wanting to leave Houston.”

According to the Harris County Clerk’s Office Election’s Department, voters 50-plus accounted for 58% of the voters who cast ballots in the 2019 municipal election, and the average age of the voter who cast ballots was 57. There are 220,000 AARP members in Houston.

AARP Houston released the survey as part of its Houston voter engagement campaign aimed at putting the city’s mayoral candidates in touch with the priorities of older adults. This multifaceted campaign also includes sponsoring a televised mayoral candidate forum and engaging in a variety of opportunities to discuss key elements of AARP Houston’s Livable Communities Action Plan. The plan spotlights transportation, housing, and public safety among the nine domains of livability. The effort will also include educating voters on how, when, and where to vote in the November 7 election.

Read the detailed findings and annotated questionnaire at aarp.org/voteHouston.

AARP Texas is a non-profit, non-partisan organization with 2.3 million members in Texas.