OnPolitics: How The Politics Of Health Care Could Affect The Midterms

Hello OnPolitics readers! It's the Emmys with the best stories of the day.

While polls indicate the economy, abortion and crime are concerns for many moderate voters, health care remains a motivating issue for some.

In several contested states, the order could help determine whether Republicans regain control of Congress or Democrats tighten their grip, according to Ken Tran, Medora Lee and Sarah Albisci.

Bob Blendon, professor emeritus of health policy and policy analysis at Harvard's TH Chan School of Public Health, said with inflation dominating the polls, health care remains a "second-tier" issue for voters.

Most voters may find it difficult to protect themselves from rising health care costs when prices for other essentials like food, gas and utilities have risen over the past year. When they do, Blendon says, it all depends on the impact on their bank accounts.

Here's how and why health care motivates voters, regardless of who they've voted for in the past.

Takeaways from last night's Florida gubernatorial debate:

Democrat Charlie Crist, who is trailing in the polls and spending heavily, addressed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the start of an hour-long debate Monday.

"You will hear a stark contrast in this debate and this election," Christ said in his opening remarks. "It's a stark contrast between someone who believes in women's right to vote, which I think is essential, and Governor DeSantis signing legislation that would limit that right, even in the face of rape or molestation."

DeSantis immediately responded to the abortion. But he has been working for an hour to tie his Democratic opponent with President Joe Biden, who is unpopular in most polls.

Citing "Biden's crest of energy policy" for raising gas prices and "Biden's crest of economics" for inflation, the Republican governor said what Democrats see as the failure of Biden's border policy. Click here for a full summary of last night's debate.

Real fast: stories you'll want to read

• Sunak's first move as Britain's new prime minister : Former finance minister Rishi Sunak made a political comeback when Britain's ruling Conservative Party elected him prime minister just seven weeks after he was defeated by Liz Truss. Sunak insisted he could turn around the country's ailing economy, but did not elaborate.

• 💉 Biden is active : President Joe Biden received his own COVID-19 reminder update on Tuesday and urged other Americans to do the same ahead of the holiday season. "If you get it," he said, "you're safe." "And if you don't, you put yourself and others at unnecessary risk."

• Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter Dies : Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who served in the Obama administration for the past two years, died Monday, his family said in a statement. In early 2015, Carter made major changes to the military, including opening all combat positions to women and allowing transgender soldiers to serve openly.

• Stroke survivors see themselves in Fetterman : Stroke survivors who spoke with SU Today said they can't imagine recovering in public — let alone during one of the most watched, and most important, Senate races ever. May determine which major party will control the Congress That's exactly what John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania Senate vacancy, had to do.

🎤 PENNSYLVANIA , COLORADO, MICHIGAN DEBATES START TONIGHT : Candidates in at-large races in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado will compete in the debate stage at the end of the final week of the midterms. Here's what you need to know about each candidate ahead of tonight's debate.

This article originally appeared in USA Today: How health policy could affect midterms

It depends on what state you're in: US Health Policies and Policies | Part 1