TRAVERSE CITY — The abortion issue is top of mind in the upcoming election for Martha Stephens, 61, of East Bay Township, a fast-growing community just east of Traverse City.
“I’m a pro-life voter and that’s been important to me for a long time,” Stephens said on a snowy January afternoon. “I was elated when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade [in June 2022].”
However, she was discouraged in November 2022 when Michigan voters approved Proposal 3 that codified abortion rights in the state constitution.
“It’s rather disheartening to hear about at the lengths people will go in order to end a pregnancy,” she said. “Somebody has to advocate for the life a woman is carrying. I also believe fathers should have a say, not just the mother.”
Now the prospect of a repeat Biden-Trump election is discouraging to many voters, according to recent polls. A majority of voters polled by the Associated Press in December said they would be “very” or “somewhat” dissatisfied with that rematch.
Stephens, a nonpartisan medical administrator, agrees.
She said neither Trump nor Biden is a suitable candidate for president in the upcoming election. Trump is “not a trustworthy person” based on his previous behavior in office, she said, and Biden “is too old to serve in such a demanding position.”
Following politics isn’t part of Stephens’ daily routine. She isn’t watching news about the possible impeachment of President Biden, nor does she particularly care about the Hunter Biden saga or the legal troubles of former President Trump. Instead, Stephens is focused on issues beyond the Washington, D.C., beltway.
“The horrific loss of life in the Ukraine war, as well as the Israel-Hamas conflict, is very troubling,” she said. “I’m shocked by how quickly these wars escalated.”
Closer to home, Stephens worries about inflation and especially the rising cost of health care: “Everything is more expensive, sometimes dramatically so. I know that raising the minimum wage is a good thing for workers, but those costs will ultimately be passed on to the consumers.”
When the November 2024 general election rolls around, Stephens is sure she’ll vote, but she may leave the presidential line on the ballot blank.
“I’d rather vote for Mickey Mouse than either one of them,” she said.