With the midterm elections just over a month and a half away, President Biden and the democrats face a steep uphill climb. Despite victories on infrastructure, student debt relief, and climate change, it seems voters from both major parties remain unimpressed.
While Republicans initially fixed their attention on immigration at the southern border, as well as other culture war issues such as critical race theory and LGBT education in schools, an older culture war issue rocketed its way back to the top of the discussion: abortion.
In early May of this year, the unprecedented leak of an upcoming Supreme Court decision keyed American voters into the court’s plan to overturn Roe V. Wade effectively banning abortion at the federal level. While pro-lifers celebrated this as a victory for human life, pro-choicers decried it as an attack on women as well as personal autonomy.
Despite millions marching around the country, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts’ assurance that the vote could change before its announcement date, sure enough the decision came down exactly as expected on June 24th. With the six conservative Justices, including Justice Roberts voting to overturn Roe v. Wade and the three liberal justices voting to uphold it.
While tens of millions of American women grieved their lost right to make such a heavy and personal medical decision, Democrats quickly attempted to capitalize on their grief. Sending out millions of “urgent” emails and texts, asking for just $15 to help flip The Senate, and protect the right to an abortion.
Many democratic voters saw through this ploy. Wondering where this sense of “urgency” was during Obama’s first term in office, when the democrats had solid majorities in both houses of congress, and could easily have codified Roe v. Wade into law.
As abortion bans took effect in 13 states Republicans initially assured pro-choicers that they simply wanted the decision to be left up to state legislatures and that abortion would remain legal in democratic strongholds. However just this week, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham proposed a bill that would restrict abortion access nationwide after 15 weeks.
The bill has been roundly criticized by Democrats as well as some Republicans who fear that introducing the bill with the midterms just eight weeks away may hurt the GOP’s standing with moderate and independent voters.
This got me wondering how students here at Saint Xavier would be approaching this year’s midterms. I sent out emails asking students if they planned to vote this November, how they’d be voting, and what issues concerned them the most.
Of the respondents, the majority said that they did plan to vote this November with most choosing to vote by mail.
To my surprise, protecting abortion rights seemed to be the biggest concern for students heading to the polls this November. Of the top three responses, decreasing crime came in at number 3, at number 2 was lowering the cost of living. Other responses included protecting immigrant rights, fighting climate change, and expanding access to healthcare.
When asked why they felt it was important to vote one student was quoted as saying, “A single vote can influence any political decisions which is why it’s important that we give ourselves a voice in the matter.”
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