As the country approaches Election Day, voters are homing in on specific issues that may decide the fate of Congress and several state governments in November.
The Washington Examiner has been tracking the issues that have been on the top of voters’ minds over the last three months as they prepare to head to the polls, particularly in key battleground states that could bring a shift in power to the federal government. Specifically, we’re tracking how voters are researching our top five issues — abortion, crime, education, inflation, and taxes — and how these interests fluctuate as we get closer to Election Day.
MIDTERMS 2022: TRACKING THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO VOTERS AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY
Internet searches related to those voter priorities have shifted dramatically in Georgia since the beginning of August, particularly in relation to the Peach State’s Senate and gubernatorial races. Here’s how the political playing field has changed over the last three months between Aug. 1 and Oct. 28:
Key races to watch:
Georgia has emerged as one of the most competitive battleground states in the midterm elections, with voters set to cast their ballots for both the Senate and gubernatorial races.
Although Georgia has historically benefited the Republican Party as a GOP stronghold, the state has become a highly watched swing state — particularly after the 2020 elections, in which President Joe Biden won the state and Democrats clinched both Senate seats, securing majorities in both chambers of Congress. Now, Democrats are seeking to hold on to their gains while Republicans strategize how to reclaim the once-reliably red state.
Republicans are particularly eyeing the Senate race between incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and Trump-backed challenger Herschel Walker. The race has been deemed a toss-up, and polls have alternated back and forth between which candidate is leading the other.
Further down the ballot is the highly watched governor’s race between Gov. Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams, a rematch from 2018, when Abrams lost to the Republican incumbent. That race has taken center stage during the midterm cycle as the state considers key legislation on abortion, inflation, and more.
Education remained supreme, ranking as No. 1 issue for final leg of midterm cycle
Education emerged as the most-researched issue among Georgia voters during the last three months of the election cycle, spiking a number of times and hardly ever falling below its No. 1 spot.
Education has long been a priority among lawmakers in Georgia, and the state boasts the highest average teacher pay in the South. That has especially been highlighted in recent months after Kemp enacted a $5,000 pay raise for state employees, including teachers. However, Abrams argued the raise wasn’t enough and proposed further increases to recruit and retain more teachers in the state.
One of the most prominent search terms during that time frame was related to Biden’s student loan forgiveness program that was unveiled on Aug. 24, providing relief to up to 43 million borrowers. The forgiveness plan described parameters for who would be eligible for student loan cancellation, noting borrowers will need to earn under $125,000 individually or $250,000 as a household.
Abortion had strong start before falling to become lowest-researched topic
Abortion emerged as a top voter issue nationwide over the summer before falling to be one of the least-researched topics among Georgia voters as of late October.
That could spell trouble for Democrats, who have relied on the issue as a key motivator to increase voter turnout in their favor. It also indicates that Democrats may be unsuccessful in their efforts to use allegations against Walker that he paid for two women to get abortions in 1993 and 2009 as a way to derail his campaign.
Georgia was one of a handful of states to enact new abortion laws after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. The procedure is now illegal in Georgia after a heartbeat is detected, with some exceptions in the case of rape, incest, or threat to the mother’s life.
Taxes and inflation are also top of mind as voters grapple with economic strains
Taxes and inflation were also top of mind for Georgia voters, experiencing a number of spikes over the last few months as reports showed no signs of inflation slowing — hurting Democrats’ midterm chances. Republicans have long focused on inflation as a key voter concern in the midterm election cycle, pointing to soaring inflation rates under Biden.
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The issue of taxes has been a high-profile topic in the Georgia governor’s race, with Kemp seeking to position himself as better prepared to handle the economy than Abrams. As a result, the Republican incumbent has tied Abrams to several of Biden’s more unpopular policies in the state, claiming she wants to increase taxes for Georgians.
Interest in inflation also spiked in late October after the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics was released on Oct. 13, the final report before Election Day. Inflation clocked in at 8.2% for the 12 months ending in September — higher than expected and defying the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes.
