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 Maryland 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:
Maryland has a handful of high-profile midterm races in the Senate and House that could help determine which party gains control of Congress in November.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen is vying for a second term in the Senate, seeking to fend off a challenge from Republican Chris Chaffee as Democrats fight to defend their majority in the upper chamber. The race has attracted widespread attention after Van Hollen suffered a minor stroke in May, although the Democrat is favored to win in November. Maryland has not elected a Republican senator since 1987.
Maryland’s House has also turned heads as the state will have one open seat up for grabs, offering Republicans a chance to pick up a seat as they try to gain control of the lower chamber. Maryland’s 4th Congressional District is being vacated by Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD), who announced he would resign to run for attorney general.
Further down the ballot, voters will have the opportunity to elect their next governor as Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) term ends. Trump-backed Republican candidate Dan Cox is facing off against Wes Moore as Democrats seek to win back the governor’s mansion in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1.
Education
Education emerged as the top-researched issue among Maryland voters in mid-September and remained the No. 1 priority as the weeks stretched into mid-October, according to internet searches recorded and analyzed by Google Trends.
The issue has been a focal point of the governor’s race, as Cox and Moore have campaigned on vastly different education platforms, with the Republican especially emphasizing the issue throughout the midterm cycle.
Cox has repeatedly voiced support for making education more affordable, restricting instruction on critical race theory and “gender indoctrination,” and amplifying parental choice in state decisions. Meanwhile, Moore has campaigned on seeking to address a teacher shortage and increase funding for child care and technical support in classrooms.
Taxes
The issue of taxes had varied interest among Maryland voters over the last month, spiking only a handful of times in late September and early October. Internet searches related to taxes spiked on Oct. 4 and 14 in tandem with increased interest in education — likely having to do with President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program.
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.
The rise in tax-related internet searches in relation to student loan forgiveness comes after some states announced that borrowers may be taxed. Maryland is one of the states that has announced it will exempt borrowers from paying taxes on their loan forgiveness.
Crime
Crime emerged as a top issue among Maryland voters over the last month, competing with education as the No. 1 issue at times before falling to No. 3 as of Oct. 15.
Crime has become a forefront issue in Maryland over the last few months, particularly juvenile crime. In fact, Prince George’s County in Maryland implemented a curfew for residents under 17 years old that will last until the end of the year as officials seek to crack down on rising crime rates.
The curfew was implemented after Labor Day, when county officials reported one of the deadliest months for homicides in the county’s history. During the first month of enforcement, county police reported a “significant reduction” in violence, although it’s not clear if the curfew had a direct impact.
Inflation
Inflation remained one of the least-searched topics over the last month, receiving only one spike on Oct. 13 before falling back to No. 4 as of Oct. 15.
The spike in interest on Oct. 13 is likely due to the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that was released on that day, 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.
Stocks immediately took a hit after the report was released. Futures of the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down some 500 points just minutes after the report’s release. The S&P 500 was off by about 2%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq plunged nearly 3%.
Abortion
Abortion remained a low-researched topic among Maryland voters over the last 30 days, coming in at No. 5 as of Oct. 15.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The issue has especially taken center stage in the governor’s race as Democrats and Republicans in the state legislature are split on whether to codify abortion rights in the constitution or do away with existing protections altogether. Maryland is one of a handful of states that allows the procedure for any reason up until viability.
State lawmakers expanded abortion access in the state earlier this year but failed to pass a measure that would put abortion rights on the November ballot for voters to decide. Hogan vetoed a bill that would have allowed any trained medical provider, such as a midwife or nurse practitioner, to perform an abortion, but state lawmakers overrode his veto.
