Democrats see midterm opportunity in abortion ballot measures

Four states could have abortion ballot measures in November, giving Democrats an opportunity to push the issue back into the national spotlight and make life uncomfortable for Republicans.

Voter anger about abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 helped propel Democrats to a series of midterm victories that year.

But when then-Vice President Kamala Harris lost the White House despite prioritizing abortion messaging, and voters elected Republicans even in states with abortion ballot measures, the issue took a back seat to affordability, the economy and cost-of-living concerns.

However, a new round of ballot measures is creating an opening for Democrats — and what could be a political headache for the Trump administration and Republicans in tough races.

Democrats and abortion-rights activists believe that unlike in 2024, the abortion ballot measures this year will be able to boost turnout to other races, especially in battlegrounds like Nevada and Virginia. 

“I think everybody can agree that this is a cost of living, affordability, economic cycle; but that doesn’t change the fact that Republicans are still out of step on the issue of abortion,” one Democratic strategist said.   

Polls show that a majority of Americans, as much as 60 percent in some cases, think abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Activists said Democrats in all races should lean into that and hold Republicans’ feet to the fire on the issue. 

“We believe Democrats should be talking about reproductive freedom and abortion access everywhere. It is one of the top issues that voters trust them on, which makes it a very immediate and compelling and important contrast. They do not trust Republicans on this,” said Mini Timmaraju, the president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All. 

According to election analysts, abortion protection ballot measures in 2024 gave........

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