As the country inches closer to Election Day, voters are homing in on issues that may decide the fate of Congress and several state governments in November.
The Washington Examiner is tracking which issues are on the top of voters’ minds 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
Below, you can track the interest in Indiana in each of our key issues on a rolling 30-day basis. The Washington Examiner will be updating this page as interests and voting concerns change.
Key races we’re watching in the state:
One of the most highly watched races in Indiana during the midterm cycle has been the Senate contest between incumbent Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) and Democratic challenger Thomas McDermott. The race has been deemed not competitive and is likely to lean solid Republican, but recent polls have shown McDermott closing the gap between him and Young.
Elsewhere on the ballot, Republicans have turned their attention to Indiana’s 1st Congressional District House seat with hopes to flip the seat red in November. The seat, currently held by Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-IN), is one of two blue House seats out of the eight congressional districts in the state.
The seat is one of several that Republicans are eyeing to flip in November as part of their efforts to gain control of Congress in November. Mrvan is set to face Republican candidate Jennifer-Ruth Green, and the race is likely to lean Democratic.
Education
Education emerged as the top-researched issue among Indiana voters early in September and remained the No. 1 priority for the duration of the month, according to internet searches recorded and analyzed by Google Trends.
Searches related to education spiked several times over the last month, mirroring nationwide trends that saw the issue receive renewed interest in August and September — likely coinciding with the beginning of the school year. Other spikes in interest may be due in part to the announcement of President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program on Aug. 24.
Crime
Crime held steady as one of the top issues among Indiana voters in September, alternating as No. 2 and No. 3 throughout the month.
Crime has also emerged as a top voter priority nationwide, with 60% of voters saying violent crime is a “very important” issue, ranking behind only the economy and gun policy, which are not included in the Washington Examiner’s analysis.
Republicans have sought to paint Democrats as too “soft on crime” throughout the midterm cycle, and the GOP may have an advantage because it is typically considered better at handling crime, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll from April. That is a shift from previous sentiments that both parties are capable of handling crime.
Taxes
Taxes emerged as a top issue among Indiana voters after seeing varied interest throughout the month of September, coming in at No. 3 as of Oct. 6, according to internet searches recorded and analyzed by Google Trends.
Internet searches related to taxes spiked three times on Sept. 14, 16, and 27 in tandem with education searches, likely having to do with the announcement of Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan 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.
Indiana is one of just seven states that has announced it will tax the federal student loan debt that is forgiven, adding it to next year’s tax bill.
Abortion
Abortion emerged as a top priority among Indiana voters in mid-September before falling to the No. 4 most-researched topic as of Oct. 6.
The issue has become central to the Senate race in Indiana, with McDermott focusing much of his campaign on abortion access, particularly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade over the summer and ended nationwide access to the procedure. Meanwhile, Young has tried to distance himself from the issue despite campaigning as an anti-abortion candidate who praised the Supreme Court’s decision as correcting “a historic injustice.”
The issue of abortion saw renewed interest in the state after lawmakers passed a near-total abortion ban on Aug. 5 with narrow exceptions for rape or incest. Indiana became the first state to pass such a law after the court’s decision in June.
Inflation
Inflation remained one of the lowest-searched topics throughout the month of September, receiving a spike in interest on Sept. 13 and 28 before falling back to No. 5 as of Oct. 6.
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The spikes in interest coincide with the release of the consumer price index report showing inflation rates slightly decreased in August, with prices rising 8.3% compared to the year before. The numbers were higher than expected but still a decline from July’s numbers, which showed an 8.5% increase.
Republicans have long focused on inflation as a key voter concern in the midterm election cycle, pointing to soaring inflation rates under Biden. However, inflation has become less of a concern after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, offering Democrats relief and posing a challenge to Republicans as they formulate new strategies.
