The following is a glimpse of women's reproductive / healthcare rights from Al Jazeera.
“This vote makes clear what we know: The majority of Americans agree that women should have access to abortion and should have the right to make their own health care decisions,” President Joe Biden said at that time.
Michigan, a swing state that voted for Trump in 2016, also approved a referendum to enshrine abortion rights. Democrats, emphasising abortion rights, comfortably won the three top state-wide races in Michigan last year and gained control of the legislature for the first time in years.
And it was not just in Michigan. In key midterm races, Democrats who made abortion a key issue emerged triumphant, leading the party to a historically good performance nationwide, despite rampant inflation and economic concerns.
Tresa Undem, a co-founder of the nonpartisan research firm PerryUndem, said the abortion issue has been an “Achilles heel” for Republicans since the Supreme Court’s decision.
Undem said the Dobbs ruling definitely boosted Democrats’ prospects at the polls in 2022.
“There’s no question that it was a setback [for Republicans]. I mean every indicator, from every ballot measure where people voted on it, every poll pre- and post-election, including our own, showed that Democrats really Benefitted from the Dobbs decision and abortion being a top issue,” she said.
And it has not just been a one-off, according to Undem. Reproductive rights have continued to resonate with voters and will play a role in the 2024 elections, she said, citing exit polling by her firm.
Earlier this year in Wisconsin, for instance, a liberal candidate defeated a conservative rival for a seat on the state’s supreme court in a closely watched race largely seen as a referendum on abortion rights.
“Let’s be clear: The vast, overwhelming majority of Americans stand with women and support the right to choose abortion,” Democratic Senator Patty Murray said in a floor speech this week.
“Every place abortion rights were on the ballot last November — every single place — abortion rights won. Still, Republicans are ignoring their constituents and doubling down on their extreme anti-abortion politics.”
www.aljazeera.com
And from the same article:
How abortion became an ‘Achilles heel’ for US Republicans
Abortion has been a contentious issue in US politics for decades. Conservatives — often motivated by religious beliefs — have pushed to ban the procedure, arguing that abortion amounts to ending human life. ...“This vote makes clear what we know: The majority of Americans agree that women should have access to abortion and should have the right to make their own health care decisions,” President Joe Biden said at that time.
Democrats ‘benefitted’ from Dobbs
By the midterm elections in November, voters in five more states favoured protecting abortion rights through ballot proposals — including in Kentucky, a Republican stronghold.Michigan, a swing state that voted for Trump in 2016, also approved a referendum to enshrine abortion rights. Democrats, emphasising abortion rights, comfortably won the three top state-wide races in Michigan last year and gained control of the legislature for the first time in years.
And it was not just in Michigan. In key midterm races, Democrats who made abortion a key issue emerged triumphant, leading the party to a historically good performance nationwide, despite rampant inflation and economic concerns.
Tresa Undem, a co-founder of the nonpartisan research firm PerryUndem, said the abortion issue has been an “Achilles heel” for Republicans since the Supreme Court’s decision.
Undem said the Dobbs ruling definitely boosted Democrats’ prospects at the polls in 2022.
“There’s no question that it was a setback [for Republicans]. I mean every indicator, from every ballot measure where people voted on it, every poll pre- and post-election, including our own, showed that Democrats really Benefitted from the Dobbs decision and abortion being a top issue,” she said.
And it has not just been a one-off, according to Undem. Reproductive rights have continued to resonate with voters and will play a role in the 2024 elections, she said, citing exit polling by her firm.
Earlier this year in Wisconsin, for instance, a liberal candidate defeated a conservative rival for a seat on the state’s supreme court in a closely watched race largely seen as a referendum on abortion rights.
“Let’s be clear: The vast, overwhelming majority of Americans stand with women and support the right to choose abortion,” Democratic Senator Patty Murray said in a floor speech this week.
“Every place abortion rights were on the ballot last November — every single place — abortion rights won. Still, Republicans are ignoring their constituents and doubling down on their extreme anti-abortion politics.”
How abortion became an ‘Achilles heel’ for US Republicans
Polls and past election results show abortion issues hurt Republicans at the ballot, which may affect the 2024 race.
And from the same article:
Notably, in the Republican primary, where support for authoritarian government women's health restrictions and prohibitions is strongest, not only are Republican candidates not dropping the issue. GOP presidential primary candidates are explicitly citing the Dobbs decision to promote their own candidacy.