U.S. Election Day guide: Governor races, abortion rights and more

On November 2nd, people in the United States are going to vote in important elections. They'll choose governors in Kentucky and Mississippi, decide who controls the legislature in Virginia and New Jersey, and decide if the Ohio state constitution should protect abortion rights.

These elections don't get as much attention as the big ones for president and Congress, but they're still significant. They can give us hints about what might happen in the 2024 elections.

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR

In Kentucky, there's a race for the governor's position. The current governor, Andy Beshear, is a Democrat, and he's running again. He's up against Daniel Cameron, who is a Republican. Kentucky is usually a conservative state.
Beshear's campaign talks about how he's brought jobs to Kentucky, supported schools, made healthcare more accessible, and put in strict rules to fight COVID-19. Cameron is focusing on safety, problems with education during the COVID-19 pandemic, and issues that Republicans across the country care about, like opposing certain medical care for transgender kids.

MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR

In Mississippi, the current governor, Tate Reeves, is a Republican running for re-election. His opponent is a Democrat named Brandon Presley, who used to be a small-town mayor and now works as a utility regulator. Reeves is leading in the polls because Mississippi is a very conservative state, but Presley has raised more money for his campaign.

Reeves has accused Presley of getting support from liberals who live in other states and of not supporting certain medical care for transgender youth. Presley says he doesn't support that care for minors or letting transgender girls play on girls' sports teams. He's also promising tax cuts and wants to expand Medicaid.

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

In Virginia, all 40 seats in the Senate and 100 seats in the House of Delegates are up for election. Democrats are trying to keep their control of the Senate and take the majority in the House from the Republicans. Virginia can swing between Democratic and Republican control, and it's the only southern state that hasn't made stricter rules on abortion since the Supreme Court changed its decision in June 2022.

Republicans have promised to make a 15-week abortion ban if they take control of the legislature, and this is a big issue in the election.

NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE

In New Jersey, Republicans are trying to gain control of either the Assembly or Senate, even though it's a state that usually votes for Democrats. All seats in these legislative chambers are being contested. Republicans have been gaining support since 2021, and they're talking about different issues, like the economy and the rights of parents in K-12 education.

OHIO ABORTION RIGHTS

In Ohio, there's a question on the ballot about whether abortion rights should be protected in the state's constitution. This would make a law signed by the Republican governor, Mike DeWine, that limits abortion to six weeks, not valid. Right now, that law can't be enforced because of legal battles in the state's conservative Supreme Court. The vote is important because Democrats want to win more votes on abortion issues in 2024.

OHIO MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Ohio voters will also decide if marijuana should be legalized for recreational use. If it's approved, there will be rules and taxes for marijuana for adults over 21. Right now, medical use of marijuana is allowed.

MAYORAL RACES

In different cities, mayors are being elected. In Philadelphia, two former city council members, Cherelle Parker (a Democrat) and David Oh (a Republican), are running for mayor because the current mayor, Jim Kenney, can't run again.

In Houston, there are many candidates, including U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and state Senator John Whitmire, both Democrats. They're trying to take over from the current mayor, Sylvester Turner, who is also a Democrat.

PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT

Pennsylvania is choosing a new justice for its highest court. It won't change the court's liberal leaning, but it could matter in the future for abortion rights and election laws. Planned Parenthood supports the Democrat, Daniel McCaffery, while anti-abortion groups back the Republican, Carolyn Carluccio. Democrats have more seats in the state court, but there's still one more seat to be filled. We kindly request you to disseminate this news and provide your insights in the comments section. Thank you