Young Voters Are More Likely to Prioritize Abortion Rights in Upcoming Midterms
By Abby Springs
With the fall of Roe v. Wade and high prices dominating pre-midterm headlines, both issues are being widely featured in campaign messaging by Democratic and Republican candidates. Data for Progress surveyed likely voters to determine the importance of abortion rights and economic issues in the upcoming midterms. Consistent with previous polling on the priorities of midterm voters, we find that rising prices are still the top concern for Americans, although abortion rights have become a key issue to Democratic voters and young people in particular.
When given a choice between economic issues, abortion rights, or party extremism, 57 percent of voters say that they are most concerned about the rising cost of food and gas. This includes a plurality of Democrats (42 percent), 63 percent of Independents, and 69 percent of Republicans.
Among Democrats, 22 percent are most concerned about abortion rights, while 26 percent are most concerned about the Republican Party moving too far to the right. Among Independents, 10 percent are most concerned about abortion access, and only 8 percent are most concerned about the Democratic Party moving too far to the left.
Abortion rights are a particularly salient issue among young voters, a critical constituency that Democrats and President Biden in particular have struggled with over the last several months. Among voters under the age of 45, 82 percent consider abortion rights to be an important issue to their vote, and only 8 percent do not see it as important at all. Young people have lived their entire lives with Roe v. Wade considered settled law, and its reversal is a sign that they may grow older with fewer rights than their parents and grandparents had.
Voters are primarily concerned about economic issues and inflation, but key Democratic groups see abortion as an important issue heading into the midterms. To engage Democratic voters and appeal to those who may still be undecided, Democrats running for office should focus on lowering prices and protecting abortion access ahead of the midterm elections.
Abby Springs (@abby_springs) is the Press Assistant at Data for Progress.