WASHINGTON (AP) — The most-watched off-year general election races on Tuesday have been largely shaped by the ongoing debate surrounding abortion rights.
From the gubernatorial reelection bid in Kentucky to a statewide ballot measure in Ohio to state legislative elections in Virginia, the topic of abortion has taken center stage in campaign debates and advertising, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year overturning Roe vs. Wade.
Let’s take a closer look at three major races and how abortion has influenced each contest.
Kentucky governor
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is seeking a second term in a heavily Republican state that Donald Trump carried twice. The GOP nominee is Daniel Cameron, who succeeded Beshear as state attorney general.
Beshear has criticized the state’s restrictive abortion law for not allowing exceptions in cases of rape and incest. He also vetoed a proposal banning abortions after 15 weeks. Cameron, on the other hand, supports the state law and has expressed willingness to sign a bill amending it to allow rape and incest exceptions, though there has been some confusion over his stance.
Beshear, the son of former two-term Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, narrowly defeated GOP incumbent Matt Bevin in 2019. Cameron, endorsed by Trump and a former aide to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, aims to become the first Black Republican governor since Reconstruction if elected.
Ohio constitutional amendment on abortion
Ohio voters will decide whether to amend the state Constitution to protect access to abortion services.
The measure would establish the right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions” on matters including abortion, contraception, and fertility treatment. It would also allow for abortions to be banned once it has been established that the fetus can survive outside of the womb, unless a physician determines that continuing with the pregnancy would endanger the patient’s “life or health.”
Peter Range, the executive director of Ohio Right to Life, speaks to members of the Clark County Republican Party about the state’s upcoming referendum on abortion rights, in Springfield on Oct. 26, 2023. Photo by Joseph Ax/ Reuters
In August, voters rejected a measure that would have made it more difficult to approve Tuesday’s abortion proposal. That contest was seen as a proxy fight on reproductive rights and received national attention.
READ MORE: What to expect in Ohio’s 2023 vote on abortion and marijuana
Virginia General Assembly
Control of both chambers of Virginia’s state legislature is up for grabs, with Republicans holding a narrow majority in the state House and Democrats leading the state Senate. Both chambers could potentially flip, paving the way for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to implement a ban on abortions after 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, and endangerment of the mother’s life. Democratic candidates have heavily focused their campaigns on this issue.
READ MORE: What to expect in Virginia’s 2023 legislative elections
Other Races to Watch
Mississippi governor
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is running for a second term against Democrat Brandon Presley. Democrats held the Mississippi governorship for almost all of the 20th century, but Republicans have controlled the office for the last 20 years.
READ MORE: What to expect in Mississippi’s 2023 general election
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Republican Carolyn Carluccio and Democrat Daniel McCaffery are the nominees to fill a vacant state Supreme Court seat that could play a significant role in voting-related cases during the 2024 presidential campaign.
READ MORE: What to expect in Pennsylvania’s 2023 general election
Rhode Island U.S. House District 1
Democrat Gabe Amo and Republican Gerry Leonard face off in a special election to complete the term of former Democratic U.S. Rep. David Cicilline. The district has typically voted for Democrats.
READ MORE: What to expect in Rhode Island’s 2023 special elections
Mayors
In Houston, 17 candidates are vying to replace term-limited Mayor Sylvester Turner. Notable hopefuls include U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire.
In Uvalde, Texas, the mayoral candidates include a former news reporter, a former mayor, and an elementary school teacher.
In Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mayor Joe Ganim is seeking an eighth term, but a new primary has been ordered after evidence surfaced of possible ballot stuffing. In Derby, Connecticut, the incumbent Mayor Richard Dziekan is running as an independent for a fourth term.
New York City Council District 9
Criminal justice reform activist Yusef Salaam, who was one of five men convicted and later exonerated in the “Central Park Jogger” rape case, is running unopposed.
READ MORE: What to expect in New York’s 2023 general election
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