Abortion Overtakes Inflation as Top Issue for Young Women

Abortion has emerged as the primary concern for women under 30 in the upcoming presidential election, overshadowing inflation. This shift has come about since Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Biden atop the Democratic ticket, according to a KFF survey. Approximately 40% of young female voters identified abortion as their top issue, up from 20% in the spring. Although inflation remains a predominant concern for women over 30, young women have increasingly prioritized reproductive rights.

In the earlier edition, inflation was the top concern for younger voters, as it was for women voters of all ages. Inflation remained the top concern for women in each age group over 30 and women overall. Women overall ranked abortion as their No. 3 concern, after inflation and threats to democracy, but ahead of immigration. KFF, a health policy research, polling and news organization, surveyed 678 female voters from Sept. 12 through Oct. 1. Most of them were participants in an earlier wave of the same poll, conducted in May and June. The follow-up survey group was supplemented with 29 Black women to ensure an adequate sample size of that group. The sampling error was plus or minus 5 points, with larger ranges for subgroups of voters.

Overall, about two-thirds of women said the election will have a major impact on abortion access, up from just over half in the initial survey. Most women said it is likely Trump would sign a federal law banning abortions after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy if Congress were to pass such a measure. Just as the survey period ended, Trump said he would veto an abortion ban if one reached his desk. The majority said they believe Harris would sign a law protecting access to abortion nationwide if Congress were to pass that.