Multiple states across the US are amassing voters for various reasons, and these elections are being closely watched as a possible tell for next year’s presidential and Congressional elections.
For instance, Virginians are going to the polls to vote on who will fill all 140 General Assembly seats. Each state chamber is decided by a thin, four-seat majority. Democrats hold sway in the state senate, while Republicans have control of the lower chamber.
Many swing seats in the state are in districts that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 and Gov. Glenn Youngkin the year after. Democrats are pushing hard with their narrative of protecting abortions, while Republicans are pushing the issue of crime. Time will tell which message speaks the most to voters in 2023.
Speaking of abortion, Ohio is putting the issue front and center on its ballot. The state is proposing a constitutional amendment to codify abortion. This follows a long battle over abortion in Ohio following the repeal of Roe v. Wade.
Abortion is currently legal until 22 weeks, although the state Supreme Court is weighing a six-week trigger ban. But this proposed amendment would protect abortion until fetal viability.
In addition, Kentucky and Mississippi are voting on their governors.
Mississippi’s Republican Gov. Tate Reeves goes against Democrat challenger Brandon Presley. Mississippi is a unique case as it will be suggestive of how much of an impact the Democrat Party has, specifically among black voters who make up 40 percent of the electorate there.
Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, a Democrat governor, is looking to defy his mostly Republican state again as he goes against GOP Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Similarly, Pennsylvania voters will decide if they want to keep their Supreme Court as a mostly Democrat institution or just a slim majority by filing a vacant seat.
Other elections are going on as well, but these five highlight some of the most critical topics that people are watching this year. People are especially looking out for how the pendulum swings on abortion.
Biden has already said he would make the topic a focal point of his reelection campaign. Many Republicans have been hesitant to pursue six-week-or-less abortion bans as they weigh the impact this push could have on their support.
Regardless, today’s election could indicate how much hold abortion could still have more than one year after Roe v. Wade has been overturned.
Many of these elections could also reflect how voters feel about Democrats. American voters have already expressed discontent with President Biden as he continues to receive low approval ratings and lose imaginary elections against Donald Trump.
It remains to be seen if this discontent has spread throughout the Democrat Party or if voters will take out their frustrations by putting Republicans in charge.