As the country inches closer toward 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 of each of our key issues on a rolling 30-day basis in the battleground state of Michigan. The Washington Examiner will be updating this page as interests and voting concerns change.
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Key races we’re watching in the state
Michigan has emerged as one of the most closely watched states in the midterm elections as Democrats seek to maintain control of their statewide offices as well as flip a few House seats in their favor.
The race for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District has drawn the attention of both Democrats and Republicans after incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer (R) lost his renomination bid to Trump-backed challenger John Gibbs. Democrats poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race as part of their strategy to elevate far-right candidates they view as easier to defeat in November.
With Meijer out of the running, Democrats are hoping to flip the seat blue as part of their efforts to maintain control of the House come November.
Democrats have also poured millions of dollars into similar efforts for the governor’s race as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) seeks to defend her seat against Tudor Dixon. That contest is seen as particularly consequential, as Dixon has spent much of her campaign promoting claims the 2020 presidential race was riddled with widespread voter fraud while running for a position that helps oversee elections in the state.
Education
Education emerged as the No. 1 issue among Michigan voters throughout September and remained the top priority as of Oct. 16, according to internet searches recorded and analyzed by Google Trends.
Internet searches related to education spiked several times during September and into October, with the most popular search phrases during this time frame related to President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program.
Education has been central to the governor’s race in Michigan, with Whitmer spending much of her tenure prioritizing education funding and allocating resources to mental health services. Dixon has also focused on education policies, vowing to allocate funding for state education to go toward private and charter schools.
Democrats have denounced those proposals, according to local news outlet MLive, accusing the candidate of seeking to divert money away from the state’s public school system.
Crime
Crime has also emerged as a top issue, sparring with taxes for the No. 2 spot before coming in as the second-most-researched topic as of Oct. 16.
Crime has been a focal of midterm campaigns in Michigan, particularly after a shooting at Oxford High School late last year that left four students dead and another seven injured. Whitmer responded to the shooting, calling gun violence a “public health crisis” and calling for stricter laws.
Dixon has also focused on crime throughout her campaign, vowing to invest $1 billion into recruiting and retaining law enforcement and other public safety officers in the state. The plan, called “Building a Safer State,” would aim to hire 7,500 new police officers over the next four years.
Taxes
Taxes were another top concern over the last month, with several spikes in related internet searches that coincided with similar spikes in education searches, ultimately coming in as the No. 3 issue as of Oct. 16.
Internet searches related to taxes spiked as it got closer to Oct. 18, likely having to do with Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan opening, which is set to provide 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.
Abortion
Abortion came in as one of the least-researched topics as of Oct. 16, but it has been one of the top issues during the midterm cycle in Michigan.
Internet searches related to abortion spiked in early September, likely in response to an announcement from the Michigan Supreme Court that a constitutional amendment on abortion rights would appear on the November ballot. Republicans had sought to keep the proposal off the ballot, prompting pro-abortion rights advocates to submit a petition with more than 700,000 signatures to include it.
The issue of abortion became central to several candidates’ campaigns after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this summer, setting up a battle between Whitmer, who is pro-abortion rights, and Dixon, who opposes abortion rights.
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Inflation
Inflation was the lowest-researched topic throughout September and into October, with the exception of a spike on Oct. 13 before tapering back down to the bottom of the list.
The spike on Oct. 13 likely coincides with the release of the latest consumer price index report that showed September prices rose 8.2% compared to the year before. The numbers were higher than expected but still a decline from August’s numbers, which showed an 8.3% increase.
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. 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.
