Abortion Rights Still In The Limelight: Top Takeaways From US Election Day 2023

While the White House was not up for grabs, it was still a prominent night for US politics on Tuesday. Voters in some states went to the polls to decide their governor and who controls their legislature, while others considered changes to abortion rights.

The off-year elections provide a snapshot of American politics heading into 2024. Democrats had plenty of good news to celebrate. But the victories won’t be enough to make the party feel secure heading into next year’s presidential election.

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Top Takeaways From US Election Day 2023

Abortion Rights Remain Significant

Democrats grabbed two early victories in Ohio and Kentucky, states that voted for Donald Trump in 2020. And abortion was the main campaign issue in the two states.

Voters in Ohio supported an amendment that will guarantee abortion rights, Andy Beshear, the Democratic Governor of Kentucky, held onto his office by campaigning on reproductive rights.

On Tuesday in Virginia, Democrats held the state Senate and flipped control of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Grand Old Party (GOP).

And Dan McCaffery, again a Democrat, won an open seat on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court after campaigning on his pledge to uphold abortion rights.

For context, the nationwide right to abortion was reversed by the Supreme Court in a highly controversial move last year. And the issue appears to still be energising voters.

We Will Have To Wait Until 2024

Tuesday presented a good night for Democrats following a series of victories in special elections and comes after a stronger performance in last year’s midterms.

It increasingly seems like Democrats start from a position of strength. But none of the races were an up-or-down decision on Joe Biden or other potential contenders.

While Democrats have performed well, it’s not clear that translates to its 80-year-old president, who faces scepticism about his performance and whether he is too old to serve another term.