Despite the Democratic Party’s efforts to make abortion the new main issue of the coming midterm elections, most trends indicate that inflation and other economic woes remain the dominant concern of most swing voters.
According to Reuters, a sample of female swing voters in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona, all pointed to inflation as a more pressing issue for them than abortion, even despite the news that the Supreme Court is preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case that legalized abortion nationwide.
“It’s the economy and jobs,” said 61-year-old Laura Wilson, a mother of three who described herself as pro-choice and who voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 election. She said that she remains undecided about who she will vote for this November, but noted her disappointment in Biden due to record-high inflation, as well as other issues affecting her area such as “too many homeless people on the streets.”
Of the 21 women interviewed by Reuters, almost all of them described the rising prices of goods such as fuel and groceries, among other things, as more important than legalized abortion. Only 5 of the interviewees described themselves as pro-life, while the remaining 16 said they were pro-abortion; only two women described abortion as their top issue.
These women represent one of the most sought-after demographics in the nation: Suburban mothers. This group was seen as crucial in the outcome of the 2020 presidential race, as well as the 2021 gubernatorial election in Virginia.
Maria Alvarez, 46, said that although she considers herself pro-choice, she doesn’t “have a strong opinion on it.” She said her concerns are focused more on her rising grocery bills, which now cost over $400 – twice as much as she paid for the same groceries one year ago. Under Joe Biden, inflation has reached a 40-year high, with spiking prices for all goods completely eliminating any wage gains in the economy. Stocks have been plummeting in recent weeks, and the first quarter of 2021 saw the GDP shrink by 1.4 percent.
Arizona in particular remains one of the biggest swing states in the country. After Biden allegedly won the state by just .3 percent over President Donald Trump, with widespread allegations of voter fraud, Biden’s approval ratings in the state have dropped since he took office. This November will see Arizona voters decide a new governor to succeed outgoing Governor Doug Ducey (R-Ariz.), as well as a Republican challenger seeking to oust incumbent Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).