By Tim Reid

PHOENIX (Reuters – Laura Wilson lives in Phoenix’s suburbs, a hotly contested political area. It could determine which party will control the U.S. Senate.

Wilson, 61 years old, supports abortion and voted for Democratic president Joe Biden. He also knew about last week’s news that the U.S. Supreme Court was likely to reverse the 1972 Roe v. Wade ruling giving women the right of an abortion.

Wilson claimed that she’s not certain who her vote will be for, but abortion rights aren’t a top priority.

Wilson stated, “It is the economy and jobs.” Biden was disappointing for her, Wilson stated. She blamed high inflation and too many homeless on the streets.

Wilson was among 21 women interviewed in Phoenix’s northern suburbs by Reuters. This is the area where Democratic Senator Mark Kelly tried to keep his seat. Most women agreed that it was not the issue of abortion but inflation that had been the most important.

The interviewees came from suburban mothers, a demographic that is highly sought-after by Republicans and Democrats in election campaigns.

Although the sample is not large, it serves as a stark reminder to Democrats that inflation, which is at 40-year-highs, remains the biggest issue facing Americans. They are struggling with rising fuel and food costs, and Biden has received low scores in opinion polls regarding his economic policies.

MAJOR, MAJOR ISSUES

Democrats are facing stiff opposition to keeping their razor-thin majority at the U.S. Congress. The Democrats seized the surprise leakage of the majority opinion by the nation’s highest court, which said that states should decide access to abortion.

Democrats expressed hope that it would mobilize Democratic voters. This is in an election where Democrats have struggled to compete with the enthusiasm of Republicans. Republicans were widely expected to win at least one House of Representatives.

Arizona’s Senate race is just one of several that are up for grabs this November. These races will determine who controls the upper chamber currently controlled by Democrats. This is among more than 20 Republican-governed states that would see an immediate ban on abortion if the Supreme Court overturns the Roe decision. The Supreme Court is expected to rule in June.

Maria Alvarez (46), a mother, and realtor said that she supports abortion, but had no strong opinions. It is important that politicians are able to take care of her pocketbook. Her grocery bill was $400 more than she spent a year ago.

Five of the 21 interviewed women by Reuters said that they are pro-life, Republican and 16 said that they were prochoice. Only two out of 16 women interviewed by Reuters said that the issue was their top priority when they vote this November. Half of those 16 weren’t sure who they would choose to support in the Senate race due to concerns over the economy. Another half of respondents indicated that they were likely to vote Democrat.

The women all live in the northern suburbs of Phoenix, a densely populated part of Maricopa County, Arizona’s biggest county. Though these suburbs used to be Republican-leaning, they are now more evenly divided and are an attractive target for both sides.

Christy Johnson, 51 years old, described herself to be an independent voter. Although she voted in support of former Republican President Donald Trump, she has also voted for Democrats. While abortion rights are very important, inflation, together with climate change, is an “important, major problem” for her.

Sherica Bailey (33) was emotional when talking about the two abortions she had. The 33-year-old Sherica Bailey is now strongly opposed to abortion.

I support Roe v. Wade being overturned. My life was very difficult at the time I experienced abortion. “I was foolish and ignorant,” she stated.

According to polls, most Americans are in favor of a woman having the right to choose. Polls show that a majority of Americans, or 70%, believe that abortion should always be legal.

PARTIES MOBILIZE

Both Democrats and Republicans have already started to mobilize around this issue by sending out mailers and fund-raising emails, knocking on doors, and placing ads.

The Arizona Democratic Party hosted a press conference last week outside of the Arizona State Capitol. It focused on Kelly’s potential re-election and his threat to the rights of abortion from Republican challengers.

Rebecca Rios said, as the Arizona Senate’s top Democrat: “This fall is crucial that we elect candidates who are pro-choice.”

Nevertheless, a representative of Kelly’s Senate Office stated to Reuters in a statement that inflation was still the biggest problem for many voters.

“Arizonans know they can count on Kelly to continue his work to protect access to abortion, lower costs for hardworking families, and get our economy back on track – at the same time,” spokesperson Sarah Guggenheimer said.

After the Republican primary vote, Kelly will find his opponent on August 2. Blake Masters told Reuters that he is a challenger to Kelly. “Progressive activists had hoped they could incite some anti-abortionist anger, but it has backfired.”

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Jim Lamon, both prominent Republican Senate candidates, did not reply to requests for comment. They are both pro-abortion opponents.

Stu Rothenberg said it is not clear that the Abortion issue will make a difference for Democrats in November.

He stated that inflation and economic issues are the biggest problems.