Economy and women’s reproductive rights loom during primary elections

President Biden vowed today to address inflation. Meanwhile, the Senate is set to vote Wednesday on an abortion rights bill which they know will likely fail to get enough votes to pass.

Northwestern economics and political science faculty discuss how these issues will shape upcoming elections and the GOP’s prospect of obtaining Senate and House majorities.

Martin Eichenbaum on the economy

Eichenbaum is the Charles Moskos Professor of Economics at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and co-director of the Center of International Macroeconomics. His research focuses on understanding aggregate economic fluctuations. He can be reached at eich@northwestern.edu or by contacting Stephanie Kulke at 847-491-4819.

Quote from Professor Eichenbaum

“In a nutshell, inflation will be a devastating issue for the Democrats. One can debate how much it is due to excess stimulus, the Fed and supply disturbances. But most people won’t care about those debates. They just know that they feel poorer. That doesn’t bode well for the Democrats.”

Alvin Tillery on the abortion rights vote Wednesday

Tillery is an associate professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy at Northwestern. His research focuses on American political development, racial and ethnic politics, and media and politics. He can be reached at alvin.tillery@northwestern.edu or by contacting Stephanie Kulke at 847-491-4819.

Quote from Professor Tillery

“Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) decision to finally hold a vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) underscores how the political landscape has shifted for the party since the draft majority opinion poised to overturn Roe v. Wade leaked from the Supreme Court. House Democrats had passed the measure, which attempts to codify abortion rights into federal law last year, but the Democratic-controlled Senate had not moved to act on it until now. The decision to take up the bill at this point shows that the Democrats believe that reproductive rights could be a potent issue for them in the midterm elections in November.

“The fact that the Republicans control 50 votes in the Senate ultimately means that the vote on Wednesday will fall far short of the number needed to pass the WHPA. Only time will tell if the Democrat’s new focus on reproductive rights will prove to be an effective mobilizing strategy in the fall. As with their feckless efforts to protect minority voting rights, continuing to engage in votes that are political theater without tackling the problem of filibuster reform runs the risk of alienating Democratic constituencies.”