Voters in Multiple States Head to the Polls for Off-Year Elections

Voters in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi, and other states are heading to the polls on Tuesday for off-year elections. These elections are expected to provide insights into the strength of the abortion issue and the impact of President Biden’s low approval ratings as politicians prepare for the upcoming presidential election year.

The results of these elections may determine the Democrats’ stance on abortion and other key issues. A recent New York Times/Siena poll showed that Donald J. Trump is leading President Biden in five critical swing states, with abortion being a bright spot for the Democratic party.

Abortion Access vs. Biden’s Unpopularity in Virginia and Kentucky

All 140 seats in Virginia’s General Assembly are on the ballot on Tuesday. The Democratic-leaning state’s popular Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, hopes to capture the State Senate and secure total Republican control of Richmond. Democrats are running on abortion rights, warning that Republican control would end abortion access in the last state in the Southeast. Youngkin is proposing a compromise that would ban abortion access after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exemptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Democrats argue that this is a ruse, but they face the challenge of overcoming President Biden’s unpopularity.

A similar dynamic is playing out in Kentucky, where Democrats have heavily emphasized the abortion issue to criticize the Republican challenger for governor, Daniel Cameron. The incumbent Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, remains popular, but the “D” next to his name is seen as a liability in a state that strongly supported Trump in the previous election.

Will Ohio Voters Support Abortion Rights?

Ohio, a traditionally Republican state, will have a referendum on establishing a right to abortion under the state constitution. This will be a test to see where Republicans stand on the issue. Abortion rights groups have had success with similar ballot measures in other states, even in Republican strongholds. However, opponents of abortion have scored victories leading up to the referendum. Ohioans historically tend to reject ballot amendments, so the outcome remains uncertain.

Mississippi’s Medicaid Expansion and Scandal

In Mississippi, the central issue is not abortion but rather the push to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The Democratic challenger, Brandon Presley, has gained momentum through this issue and a public corruption scandal involving the misspending of federal funds. However, the incumbent Republican governor, Tate Reeves, has certain advantages including incumbency, party affiliation, and the endorsement of former President Trump.

Ballot Initiatives on Wealth and Marijuana

Aside from abortion, there are other notable ballot initiatives taking place. In Ohio, voters will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana. If approved, Ohio would become the 24th state to do so, potentially adding pressure on Congress to ease restrictions on interstate banking for legal cannabis businesses.

Texans will also vote on 14 constitutional amendments, including one that would prohibit the state from imposing a “wealth” tax. This tax is seen as a way to tap into the wealth of billionaires, whose income taxes are minimal but who possess significant untaxed assets.

Additionally, Texans will decide whether to raise the mandatory retirement age of state judges from 75 to 79.