Exit polls: Inflation, abortion rights drive voters to polls

Going into the midterms, likely voters named the economy their top issue.

ByNadine El-Bawab, Gary Langer, and William Mansell
Last Updated: November 9, 2022, 10:40 AM EST

Voters headed to the polls Tuesday for the midterm elections that will determine which party holds the Senate and House of Representatives and could significantly impact President Joe Biden's agenda for the final two years of his first term in the White House.

According to a recent ABC/Post poll, 80% of likely voters said the economy was their top issue in their vote for Congress and 77% said the same about inflation.

Even after the polls close and votes are counted Tuesday night, it could be days or even a week before final midterm election results are known in every state, according to election experts and officials.

Latest headlines:

Here is how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Nov 08, 2022, 7:19 PM EST

Georgia suburban women favor Warnock, Abrams in preliminary exit poll results

Georgia Independents leaned toward incumbent Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock over Republican candidate Herschel Walker, according to preliminary exit poll results. The group favored Warnock in 2021 by 4 points.

Reverend Raphael Warnock, Democratic Senator from Georgia, arrives to speak to students at Atlanta University during a midterm election campaign event, in Atlanta, Nov. 8, 2022.
Bob Strong/Reuters

Statewide suburban voters favored Walker, but Warnock leads in Atlanta suburbs, according to preliminary exit poll results.

However, suburban women voters favored Warnock over Walker.

Suburban women voters favored Democratic candidate Stacy Abrams over Republican incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp, according to preliminary exit poll results.

Kemp, however, has a wide lead over Abrams among voters who cite inflation as the most important issue when it comes to their vote.

Nov 08, 2022, 6:21 PM EST

Nearly half of voters say they are worse off financially, more than double what it was 2 years ago

Preliminary exit poll results show nearly half of voters say they are worse off financially, more than double what it was two years ago when it was just 20% of voters who said the same.

It is also much worse compared to the two previous midterm elections at 14% in 2018 and 26% in 2014.

Nov 08, 2022, 6:06 PM EST

Republican Party leads in trust to handle crime, immigration

Preliminary exit poll results show the Republican Party leads Democrats when it comes to handling crime and immigration, at 51% to 44% on crime and 51% to 45% on immigration.

Among voters, 12% say crime is their top issue and 10% said the same for immigration.

Nov 08, 2022, 6:04 PM EST

Nearly 3rd of voters say Biden should not seek 2nd term, according to preliminary exit poll results

Nearly a third of voters say President Joe Biden should not seek a second term in 2024. More than a third of Democrats say Biden should not run again.

In preliminary results, nearly half say his policies are hurting the country, while just over a third say they’re helping. The remaining voters say they are making no difference.

Nearly a third say they are voting mainly to show opposition to Biden, while less than a third say the same about Trump.

Nearly half of voters say Biden did not legitimately win the 2020 election.

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