American Bridge Co-Chair Cecile Richards: “The world changed after the Texas law went into effect”
Today, a new report from the 19th News details how Democratic groups plan to frame the two new restrictive abortion laws in Texas and Mississippi as Republican efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade – in what could be a turning point that helps the party “notch electoral victories up and down the ballot” during the 2022 midterms.
According to two recent surveys conducted for Planned Parenthood Action Fund, EMILY’s List and American Bridge 21st Century, Democrats should make the midterm election in part a referendum on the Republican politicians who have made it their mission to end reproductive rights across the country.
These surveys show that the voters – specifically a diverse group of suburban women – who will decide whether Democrats maintain control of Congress overwhelmingly favor candidates who will leave “abortion decisions up to pregnant people and their doctors” by a 71-point margin.
THE TAKEAWAY:
Democrats must be unapologetic champions of abortion access and educate voters on how the Republican Party is trying to erase nearly 50 years of precedent by taking away the right to a safe, legal abortion.
The 19th News: Democrats see a winning midterm message: Vote, or Texas-style abortion laws are ‘coming to a state near you’
By: Amanda Becker | November 30, 2021
Key Points:
- “With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to weigh in on two restrictive abortion laws in Texas and Mississippi ahead of next year’s midterm elections, Democrats believe they can leverage concerns about abortion access to notch electoral victories up and down the ballot.”
- “Democratic candidates will need to frame the election as a referendum on Republican efforts to pass restrictive abortion laws, with Texas as a case study, focus on “punitive measures” and remind voters what a Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade could mean for abortion access in their own states, according to the results of two recent surveys shared first with The 19th.”
- “ALG Research and Hart Research Associates tested abortion messaging in two separate online and text surveys conducted in late September and early October for the Democratic-aligned Planned Parenthood Action Fund, EMILY’s List and American Bridge 21st Century.”
- “Eighty percent of voters surveyed said they were more likely to vote for a Democrat who favors leaving abortion decisions up to pregnant people and their doctors, and only 9 percent were more likely to support a Republican who favors making abortion illegal, including in early pregnancy. The 71-point margin of preference was wider than when voters were asked about other key issues such as climate change and vaccine mandates, the surveys showed.”
- “About 35 percent of the persuadable voters said abortion should be legal in all circumstances, and 46 percent said it should be legal in most cases. Eighty-three percent opposed their state passing restrictions that would severely limit legal abortion. Seventy-one percent of women and 64 percent of men in the group said Republicans were “out of step with their own views” on abortion — moreso than on guns, immigration, taxes or health care.”
Read the full report here.
Published: Nov 30, 2021 | Last Modified: Dec 10, 2021