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 Pennsylvania since the beginning of August, particularly in relation to the Keystone 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. 31:
Key races to watch:
Pennsylvania is poised to be one of the most highly watched states on Nov. 8 as voters decide their future in the Senate, the governor’s mansion, and the attorney general’s office.
Most notably, Pennsylvania voters will head to the polls to elect a new senator in a race that is likely to determine which party will maintain control of the Senate for the next two years. Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will face Trump-backed Dr. Mehmet Oz in a highly contentious race that has big implications for the state.
Further down the ballot is the governor’s race, which could have an impact on how presidential elections are held in the state — especially after claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020 that allies of former President Donald Trump say are responsible for his loss. Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro will face Republican Doug Mastriano to fill the seat of outgoing Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
After slow start, education tops list for final midterm stretch
Despite having a slow start, Google searches related to education began to rise in interest in mid-August, maintaining its No. 1 spot for the next two months.
The most highly searched terms related to education had to do with individual candidates running for office, including “Dr. Oz education,” “Fetterman education,” “Mastriano education,” and more.
Republican candidates have especially leaned in on education, emphasizing curriculum transparency and parent choice as focal points in their campaigns.
State lawmakers already advanced legislation late last year that would have required schools to publish curriculum materials on their public websites to prevent controversial topics from being discussed in the classroom. However, that bill was later vetoed by Wolf, who called it a “thinly veiled attempt to restrict truthful instruction and censor content reflecting various cultures, identities, and experiences.”
Abortion fell from one of the most-researched topics during the summer to bottom of the list
Abortion emerged as a top issue among Pennsylvania voters over the summer, particularly after the Supreme Court announced its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, returning the issue of legality back to the individual states.
A majority of the Google searches related to the issue sought to determine candidates’ stances on the issue, particularly between gubernatorial candidates Mastriano and Shapiro as the newest governor will have a heavy influence on what abortion laws, if any, the state legislature tries to pass. Current law in Pennsylvania allows the procedure up until 24 weeks, with exceptions if the woman’s life is in danger.
Republicans in Pennsylvania have especially found themselves on the defensive after the Supreme Court decision was released, with several candidates reversing or clarifying previous anti-abortion comments to broaden their base.
Oz’s position on abortion has especially come under scrutiny, and the Republican often describes himself as “pro-life” with exceptions for rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is at risk. However, the Trump-backed candidate came under fire after a 2019 interview resurfaced in which Oz expressed “politically pro-choice” viewpoints, according to the Daily Beast.
Taxes and inflation are also top of mind as voters grapple with economic strains
Taxes and inflation were also top of mind for Pennsylvania voters, experiencing a number of spikes over the last few months as reports showed no signs of inflation slowing — hurting the 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 President Joe Biden.
The issue of taxes especially came to the forefront of the Senate race, as one of the most highly searched terms was related to reports that Fetterman has a “history of unpaid taxes.” The reports emerged after Oz released a campaign ad that highlights GOP criticisms that the current Democratic lieutenant governor’s agenda would raise taxes while he and a group he headed failed to pay theirs on a string of properties.
While Fetterman eventually paid the taxes, Pittsburgh’s Channel 4 News said he “has a history of unpaid taxes.” At the time, he told the station that mistakes and a clerical error were to blame.
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In terms of inflation, voters in Pennsylvania were most interested in researching Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and inflation rates in the Keystone State, according to Google searches recorded over the last three months.
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.
