For many voters, health care was top of mind during the 2022 midterm elections. Despite predictions of a “red wave” of GOP victories nationally, Democrats were able to strengthen their control of the Senate, while Republicans won control of the House of Representatives by a slim margin. Looking back at last year’s election outcomes, it’s clear that health care played a major role in shaping our new Congress.

We have often touted the value of voting and these results are another example of the power all voters have to impact elections. In fact, the 2022 Midterms were filled with historic victories including the election of the first Latino senator from California in Alex Padilla, the first out LGBTQ immigrant elected to Congress in Robert Garcia, and the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress in Maxwell Frost — making the 118th Congress the most diverse in our nation’s history! Locally, Karen Bass was the first woman and the first Black woman elected Mayor of Los Angeles.

Now that the midterms have come and gone, it’s important to understand how the health care rights and access for Americans have changed across the country and here in California.

Women’s Reproductive Rights

Women’s reproductive rights were a pivotal ballot issue throughout the country following the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade — ending constitutional protection for abortion. Voters in California, Michigan, and Vermont voted to amend their state constitutions to permanently protect individual reproductive rights and a woman’s right to choose.

In a surprise victory for reproductive rights, Kentucky voters also rejected a constitutional amendment aimed at denying any protections for abortion. While this is a significant victory for pro-choice advocates, abortion is still illegal in Kentucky, except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger.

More than 40% of voters in California and Michigan said the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade played a significant part in their voting decisions. Similarly, 37% and 38%, of Vermont and Kentucky voters shared the same concerns according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Changes for California

In California, we saw an increase in registered voters. A total of 9.3 million (42.5%) registered voters cast ballots in the midterms. Los Angeles County registered nearly 2 million (35.5%) eligible voters and in Orange County, 938,000 (51.6%) of eligible voters registered to vote.

Statewide Health Care Ballot Measure Victories:

• Proposition 1 — Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom: Californians overwhelmingly supported enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution with 66.5% of votes cast in favor.
• Proposition 28 — Provides Additional Funding for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools: An overwhelming 63.7% of voters were in favor of increased funding for arts and music education, a significant component of cognitive and emotional development.
• Proposition 31 — Referendum on 2020 Law That Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products: More than 63% of voters approved to prohibit certain flavored tobaccos.

My Vote. My Health^TM: AltaMed Gets Out the Vote in Local Communities

At AltaMed, our My Vote. My Health. campaigns center on the message “Your health is on the ballot — vote for your health!” and through this work we have reached millions of people and new potential voters. Our approach includes direct voter engagement, community outreach and education, along with our mobilization campaign focused on registering voters among our 500,000 patients, 4,000 employees and across the communities of Los Angeles County, Orange County and beyond.

AltaMed, in partnership with Mi Familia Vota, SELA Votes, and Fourth Street Bridge Strategies in Los Angeles County; Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development in Orange County; and Casa Familiar and San Ysidro Health in San Diego County, contacted more than HALF A MILLION low-propensity voters for the November general election, surpassing our goal by nearly 200%.

Campaign Outcomes:

• 33,873 by phone
• 14,468 by door-to-door canvassing
• 456,549 via text

AltaMed was also able to reach an additional 49,222 voters through a concierge voting experiment. By reaching out to them proactively, we connected with potential voters to answer questions on voting in the midterm election.

The Road to the 2024 Presidential Election – The Importance of Staying Involved

Even though the 2022 midterms just ended, the work for next year’s Presidential election cycle has already begun. It’s important to prepared by registering to vote and staying informed and up to date on the issues that matter to you. To keep your civic engagement momentum going, please urge your family and friends to register to vote and vote in the upcoming elections in 2024. Visit My Vote. My Health^TM to check your registration status, sign up for our newsletter, or to participate in events near you.