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 09, 2022, 12:02 AM EST

Latino, Hispanic voters push Florida farther to the right

In the governor’s race, Hispanics overall broke for incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis by 15 points, 57% to 42%, compared with a 10-point lead for Democrat Andrew Gillum in 2018.

The shift was primarily among non-Cuban Hispanics. This group went from a lead of 30 points for the Democratic candidate in the last gubernatorial election, 64-34 Gillum to DeSantis, to a 5 point lead for DeSantis this year, 52-47%.

Incumbent Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives to speak to supporters at an election night party after winning his race for reelection in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 8, 2022.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Among Cuban Hispanics, DeSantis won by 37 points over Democratic candidate Charlie Crist, 68% to 31%, compared with a 32-point win in this group in 2018.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio also did well among Hispanic and Latino voters, beating Democratic challenger Val Demings by 12 points, 55% to 43%.

This includes a 35-point win among Cuban Hispanics, 67% to 32%, and a narrow 3 points among non-Cuban Hispanics, 50% to 47%. In Rubio’s last race, he lost Hispanic voters overall by a narrow 2 points, including a substantial 19% among non-Cuban Hispanics. He had a similarly strong backing from Cuban Hispanics in 2016, winning them by 37%.

Nov 08, 2022, 11:53 PM EST

Exit poll results show 9% of Shapiro voters voted for Oz

According to exit poll results, 9% of Pennsylvania voters who voted for gubernatorial Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro said they voted for Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz.

ABC News projects that Shapiro defeated Republican Doug Mastriano in the race for governor.

Nov 08, 2022, 11:14 PM EST

Ohio suburban voters prefer Republican JD Vance over Democrat Tim Ryan in Senate race

According to exit poll results, Ohio suburban voters prefer Republican JD Vance over Democratic Rep. Time Ryan in the race for Senate, at 56% to 43%.

In the traditionally red state, 36% of voters are conservatives while 21% are liberals.

Nov 09, 2022, 12:02 AM EST

Hassan wins among New Hampshire women and swing voters

Incumbent New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, who ABC News projects will win her reelection, won among women and swing voters, both independents and moderates.

Hassan won 59% of the female vote and won among 54% of independents and 63% of moderates.

She also won overwhelmingly among voters who said abortion was their top issue, winning 86%.

Thirty-six percent of New Hampshire voters said inflation was their top issue, but abortion came in as a close second with 35% saying the same.

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