Abortion rights to shape elections in several U.S. states. Here are the major races – National

Several states will participate in Tuesday’s off-year general election that will determine the next governor in two states and provide insight into how abortion rights are shaping American politics.

Kentucky voters will decide whether to give Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat running in a heavily Republican state. In Mississippi, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is seeking re-election against a cousin of rock ‘n’ roll legend Elvis Presley.

In those races and others around the country, abortion access has been a frequent topic in campaign debates. Ohio voters will decide on a constitutional amendment backed by abortion rights groups and both Democrats and Republicans have campaigned for control of the Virginia legislature by arguing that the other party is wrong on abortion.

Here’s a look at Tuesday’s key races.

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 called the state’s strict abortion laws “extremist” for not allowing exceptions for rape and incest cases. He also vetoed a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks. Cameron said he supports the state law and as governor he will sign a bill amending it to allow exceptions for rape and incest. But he sometimes has trouble clarifying what exceptions he favors.

Beshear, the son of former two-term Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, was first elected in 2019 when he defeated GOP incumbent Matt Bevin by less than half a percentage point. Cameron is a former aide to US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and has been endorsed by Trump. If elected, he would be the first Black Republican governor since Reconstruction.

Ohio voters will decide whether to amend the state Constitution to protect access to abortion services.

The proposal would establish the right to “make and exercise one’s own reproductive decisions” in matters including abortion, contraception and fertility treatment. It would also allow abortion to be prohibited once it is established that the fetus can survive outside the womb, unless a physician determines that continuing the pregnancy would endanger the patient’s “life or health”.

In August, voters rejected a measure that would have made it harder to approve the abortion measure on Tuesday. That contest was seen as a proxy fight over reproductive rights and received national attention.

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Control of both chambers of the Virginia state legislature is up for grabs, with Republicans holding a narrow majority in the state House and Democrats leading the state Senate. Either or both chambers could flip and potentially give Republicans full control of state government.

That will pave the way for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to implement a ban on abortions after 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and when the mother’s life is in danger. Democratic candidates campaigned heavily on the issue.

In addition to three marquee races in Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia, the Associated Press will report vote totals and winners in 346 contested races in 12 states. Here are some other notable races to watch:

Reeves is running for a second term against Democrat Brandon Presley, a state utility regulator and cousin of Elvis Presley. Democrats held the Mississippi governorship for most of the 20th century, but Republicans have controlled the office for the last 20 years. With the help of a large infusion of money from the national party, Presley outraised Reeves this year and essentially matched him in spending, but the incumbent entered the latter part of the campaign with more money.

Reeves was first elected in 2019 with 52 percent of the vote. Both chambers of the state legislature are also up for election.

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Republican Carolyn Carluccio and Democrat Daniel McCaffery are the nominees to fill a vacant state Supreme Court seat that could play a key role in voting-related cases during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Rhode Island US House District 1

Democrat Gabe Amo and Republican Gerry Leonard face off in a special election to complete the term of former Democratic US Rep. David Cicilline, who resigned in May after seven terms. The district votes reliably for Democrats. Cicilline was first elected in 2010 and won his last five re-election bids with 60% of the vote or higher. Democrat Patrick Kennedy previously held the seat for 16 years.

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In Houston, 17 candidates are vying to replace term-limited Mayor Sylvester Turner. Among the notable hopefuls is US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire, both Democrats.

In Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School last year, the mayoral candidates are former news reporter Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose daughter woman killed in shooting, former mayor Cody Smith and elementary school teacher. Veronica Martinez.

In Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mayor Joe Ganim is seeking an eighth term, but on Wednesday, a state judge took the unusual step of ordering a redo of the September Democratic primary after evidence emerged of possible ballot stuffing. The date for the new primary has not yet been set but will take place after Tuesday’s general election. The AP will tabulate the results of Tuesday’s election vote but will not declare a winner until the legal challenges are resolved.

In Derby, Connecticut, incumbent Mayor Richard Dziekan is running as an independent for a fourth term after losing the Republican primary to alderman Gino DiGiovanni, Jr., who was charged by federal prosecutors in August with illegally entering the US Capitol during of the riot on January 6, 2021.

Criminal justice reform activist Yusef Salaam, who was one of five men convicted and later acquitted in the “Central Park Jogger” rape case, is running unopposed.

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