### Michigan's 7th District Shows Waning Interest in Abortion as Election Issue

A prominent columnist from The Washington Post has raised concerns about a key congressional district in Michigan possibly slipping from Democratic control due to dwindling voter interest in abortion rights. Columnist James Hohmann reported on Tuesday that Democratic operatives in Michigan's 7th District are witnessing a noticeable decrease in enthusiasm for abortion, which has traditionally been a major issue for the party.

Hohmann's insights come from conversations with Democratic staff on the ground who observe that voters in the district aren't as driven by the abortion issue as they were two years ago. This has led him to question if abortion might be losing its potency as a galvanizing issue in upcoming elections nationwide. He cited the 7th District, which encompasses Lansing and some suburban areas near Detroit, noting its historical significance as a bellwether, given that it was won by Donald Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.

The district elected Democrat Elissa Slotkin in 2022, who is now running for the U.S. Senate. Slotkin's former seat is being contested by Democrat Curtis Hertel, an aide to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Republican Tom Barret, a pro-life former U.S. Army member who lost to Slotkin in 2022. Hertel's campaign staffers are finding it challenging to generate the same enthusiasm around abortion that helped Slotkin win previously.

State Rep. Jennifer Conlin (D), who attended a campaign talk by Hertel, expressed surprise at how infrequently the topic of abortion came up during her recent door-to-door interactions with voters, compared to when she won her seat following the Dobbs decision two years ago. Hohmann noted that many Michigan voters probably feel that the issue of abortion has been settled after the overwhelming passage of a 2022 state ballot referendum that codified the right to choose in Michigan's constitution.

According to Hohmann, this decreased focus on abortion makes it harder for Democrats in the 7th District to attract center-right women who previously crossed party lines to support Slotkin, Whitmer, and the abortion initiative. This trend is adding to the rising anxiety among top Democratic strategists about voter enthusiasm in crucial states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, which are vital for their electoral success.

With these shifting voter priorities, the race in Michigan's 7th District is becoming increasingly uncertain, heralding potential challenges for the Democratic Party in maintaining its influence in the region.