The upcoming 2024 elections will be the second major U.S. presidential election since the 2018 midterms. Already, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is being looked to as a key factor in the race due to its host of controversial decisions in recent years.
The Supreme Court has seen a sea change in its makeup since the 2015 appointment of Neil Gorsuch, with almost all of its nine justices now being appointed by Republican presidents. This change has led to the highest court in the United States potentially veering broadly to the right in its decisions, ranging from abortion rights to LGBT+ rights, to gun control.
The court has already made several decisions in recent years which have proven to be polarizing among the American public. In the 2020 case Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court sided with religious employers and allowed them to refuse contraceptive coverage to their employees on the basis of religious beliefs.
As the 2024 election looms closer, many worry that the Supreme Court will be called upon to make decisions on highly controversial issues, which could potentially determine the outcome of the election. In the 2018 midterm elections, Republicans made significant gains at the state level and saw their powers strengthened in many important battleground states.
These states are key to winning the elections, and the laws which are enacted by these states could potentially be challenged in the Supreme Court and swayed by the court’s opinion. This could include anything from voter registration rules, to gerrymandering, to abortion rights.
The Supreme Court has already been handed some landmark decisions which are likely to affect the 2024 presidential elections. While it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds, the Supreme Court certainly seems like it will play a pivotal role in the race.
“Supreme Court: The Deciding Factor in 2024”?
