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 Arizona since the beginning of August, particularly in relation to the 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:
Republicans are eyeing the Senate race between incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Trump-backed challenger Blake Masters (R) for a seat the GOP is hoping to flip in November. The race, once considered to lean Democratic, has been deemed a toss-up in recent weeks, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Further down the ballot, Arizona voters are set to choose a new governor, which could have an impact on how presidential elections are held in the state, especially after claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020 that Trump allies claim are responsible for the former president’s loss. That issue has taken center stage in the Arizona governor’s race as GOP candidate Kari Lake has focused much of her campaign on rejecting the results of the 2020 election.
She is set to face Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs, who currently serves as the Arizona secretary of state and has defended the state’s administration of the 2020 election.
Education soars as internet searches related to student loan forgiveness rise
Education emerged as one of the top voter priorities in Arizona in mid-August and remained one of the top issues for the final three months of the midterm cycle.
The most highly searched terms related to education had to do with President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. Arizona voters are particularly concerned about increased funding for education as well as reducing financial barriers for students going to college, according to a survey conducted by the Center for the Future of Arizona.
The survey showed that a majority of voters (82%) support an increase in funding for K-12 education and another 72% support an increase in teacher pay.
Abortion had varied interest even as state laws changed ahead of Election Day
Abortion emerged as a top issue among Arizona 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.
As the months went on, interest in the topic varied with occasional spikes in September and October. Internet searches related to abortion peaked on Sept. 24, the day the state’s new abortion law took effect, which banned the procedure after 15 weeks of gestation. Under state law, it is legal for Arizona residents to obtain an abortion in another state.
A majority of Google searches regarding abortion contained candidates’ names as well as keywords related to their stances on the issue, indicating it has taken center stage in several races, including for the Senate and attorney general.
Some Republicans in Arizona 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. Masters, for example, removed the line “I am 100% pro-life” from his campaign website earlier this year and instead tried to paint his opponent as being too “extreme.”
“Most people support commonsense regulation around abortion. But Mark Kelly votes for the most extreme abortion laws in the world,” Masters said in an ad released in August as he sought to go on the offensive. “We’re talking no limits, up until birth. Think about how crazy that is.”
Taxes and inflation are also top of mind as voters grapple with economic strains
Taxes and inflation were also top of mind for Arizona 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.
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Google searches related to taxes began to rise near the end of September, likely due to the announcement from Gov. Doug Ducey that the Arizona Department of Revenue would begin implementing the next phase of its flat tax in 2023, marking the lowest flat tax in the nation.
Taxes have also been in the spotlight in Arizona after the state Supreme Court ruled in August that tax cuts enacted by state lawmakers cannot be repealed by voters through a ballot referendum. Education advocates sought to block a decision from the state legislature that approved tax cuts mainly benefiting wealthy taxpayers in the state.
