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, 10:59 PM EST

49% of Pennsylvania voters think Fetterman is in good enough health to represent state, majority say Oz has not lived in state long enough to represent it

In exit poll results, 49% of Pennsylvania voters say Democrat John Fetterman is in good enough health to represent the state effectively in the U.S. Senate.

Questions about Fetterman's health have swirled since he had a stroke in May.

Fetterman has focused on his opponent's newcomer status in Pennsylvania and his longtime New Jersey residency. Overwhelmingly, 56% of voters say Republican Mehmet Oz has not lived in Pennsylvania long enough to represent the state, according to preliminary exit poll results.

Nov 08, 2022, 10:40 PM EST

Over two-thirds of voters who question Biden 2020 win were Republicans

Over two-thirds of voters most apt to say they do not think President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election were Republicans, according to preliminary exit poll results.

Nov 08, 2022, 10:26 PM EST

Inflation leads nationally as top issue for voters, except in Michigan, Pennsylvania

Nationally, 32% of voters named inflation as their top issue while 27% said abortion is their top issue, followed by crime, immigration and gun policy.

There are differences across states as to the degree which voters name inflation or abortion as their top issue, and voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania named abortion as their top issue over inflation.

Nov 08, 2022, 9:42 PM EST

Suburban women favor Fetterman, 50% view Oz as too extreme

Suburban women are divided 52% to 46%, on Democrat John Fetterman to Republican Mehmet Oz, according to preliminary results.

Their clout in Senate races isn’t clear: They voted 62% to 37% for Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in 2018, but retiring Republican Sen. Toomey won in 2016 with just 46% support in this group.

Meanwhile, 50% of Pennsylvania voters think Oz's views are too extreme, while 45% say the same of Fetterman.

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