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 Election Day nears.
MIDTERMS 2022: TRACKING THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO VOTERS AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY
Below, you can track the interest in West Virginia 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:
West Virginia voters will decide who will represent their two districts in the House of Representatives this election cycle, as Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are not up for reelection until 2024.
Reps. David McKinley (R), Alexander Mooney (R), and Carol Miller (R) represent West Virginia’s first, second, and third districts, respectively. However, West Virginia lost a seat in the House following the Census in 2020, leaving West Virginia with redrawn districts and only two seats.
Miller is running against Democrat Lacy Watson, who ran unopposed in the primary election, to represent the state’s 1st Congressional District. The congresswoman was elected in 2018 and is a supporter of former President Donald Trump, voting against certifying electors for the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021. Her website states her positions are “pro-life, pro-jobs, pro-energy, pro-lower taxes.”
The redrawn 2nd Congressional District included more of McKinley’s old district than Mooney’s. Despite the disadvantage, Mooney, backed by Trump, beat out McKinley in the primary race.
“Donald Trump loves West Virginia, and West Virginia loves Donald Trump,” Mooney said in his victory speech, per Associated Press.
Mooney has been described as more of a “conservative warrior than a legislator,” per the New York Times. He will face Democrat and former Morgantown City Councilor Barry Wendell, but the state has not sent a Democrat to the House since 2012.
Education
Education emerged as the top-researched issue among West Virginia voters toward the end of September and into mid-October, remaining the No. 1 priority as of Oct. 21, according to internet searches recorded and analyzed by Google Trends.
All voters in the state will get to vote on “Amendment 4,” known as the “Education Accountability Amendment.” The West Virginia State Board of Education gathers input from teachers and administrators and then sets policies to be used in all public schools. With the new amendment, legislators would be able either to accept or reject the policies.
The amendment has not received much attention in favor of a simultaneous ballot measure that could eliminate unpopular property taxes on cars.
Crime
Crime also emerged as a top issue, ending as the No. 2 concern as of Oct. 21 and remaining steady into October.
West Virginia ranked at No. 22 with 356 violent crimes per 100,000, according to the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. A Politico/Morning Consult poll released on Oct. 5 showed crime as a key battle area for the midterm elections as a whole.
Around three-quarters of respondents said violent crime is increasing nationally, while 88% said violent crime is either increasing or staying the same in their own communities. Sixty percent of respondents said that crime would influence who they voted for in the midterm election.
Taxes
Taxes emerged as another top issue among voters, staying steady from the end of September into mid-October. The issue came in at No. 3 as of Oct. 21.
Taxes are on West Virginia’s ballot as well, as Amendment 2 would allow the state legislature to repeal the property tax on vehicles and also eliminate taxes on business equipment and inventories. The amendment has created a debate between the governor and the Senate president.
Gov. Jim Justice believes that the car tax repeal amounts to “vote buying,” but Senate President Craig Blair (R) says that isn’t true and the funds will be replenished if the cut is successful.
Inflation
Inflation was one of the least-searched topics among West Virginia voters throughout September and into October, seeing some slight spikes in interest before tying with abortion for No. 4 as of Oct. 21.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released September’s inflation numbers in a consumer price index report on Oct. 13. September inflation was recorded at 8.2% in the report.
Inflation is one of the most important issues for voters as the midterm elections approach, according to a Monmouth University report released on Oct. 3. In the United States, 82% of people ranked inflation as an “extremely” or “very important” issue, compared with 56% who ranked abortion as a top worry and 32% who viewed the coronavirus pandemic as a big concern.
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Abortion
Abortion tied with inflation for No. 4 among West Virginia voters, with only slight spikes in interest.
On Sept. 16, Justice signed an abortion ban into law, which bans abortions at all stages of pregnancy. According to the law, the ban provides exemptions for medical emergencies and for rape and incest victims until eight weeks of pregnancy for adults and 14 weeks for children.
