Lawmakers across the political aisle are using this week’s seismic news that the supreme court is ready to overturn Roe v Wade and ban abortion to electrify the midterms elections, following the shocking news that US justices are prepared to roll back abortion rights.
Vulnerable democrats, specifically in swing districts, are hoping the issue will rally voters. Specifically in Nevada, a state that largely voted in 1999 to codify Roe v Wade, senator Catherine Cortez Masto has used abortion rights to turn voters against her opponent, reports Politico.
In an interview this week, Cortez said:
I have a record in support of a woman’s right to choose. And my opponent, Adam Laxalt, opposes it, and will take it away.
From Cortez via Twitter:
My opponent says that overturning Roe v. Wade and ending protections for a woman’s right to choose is a “historic victory.”
I trust women and their doctors to make the health care decisions that are best for them — not politicians. https://t.co/4SxpKdKEBC
— Catherine Cortez Masto (@CortezMasto) May 3, 2022
Republicans have also used the opportunity to challenge their opponents’ commitment to conservative ideals.
In Georgia, candidate David Perdue challenged incumbent governor Brian Kemp to “promise to call a special session of the legislature to ban abortion outright if the court eliminates federal protections for abortion rights and leaves it to states to set their own laws”, reported the New York Times.
From Perdue via Twitter:
I’m calling on Brian Kemp to join me in calling for an immediate special session of the legislature to ban abortion in Georgia after Roe v. Wade is overturned.
You are either going to fight for the sanctity of life or you’re not. (2/2)
— David Perdue (@DavidPerdueGA) May 5, 2022
Politicians are being called out online for using the potential roll back of abortion rights to fundraise for elections.
In one email that is being criticized, House speaker Nancy Pelosi urges recipients to send in $3 to help elect a “slew of pro-choice House Democrats” to “make Republicans regret EVER coming after our reproductive rights.”
This email does not contain a single word indicating that if we elect Democrats they will protect abortion rights. Instead it’s all about making Republicans “regret” and rue” their actions. It’s just “elect us — that’ll show ’em!” pic.twitter.com/sFqKE7sImP
— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser) May 4, 2022
Meanwhile, Stacy Abrams, Georgia’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, pivoted her fundraising efforts on Wednesday and asked people to donate to abortion rights groups active in her state.
From NPR’s Rachel Treisman:
Abrams — who helped turn Georgia blue in the 2020 presidential election after narrowly losing her last governor’s race in 2018 — is continuing to solicit donations for the Feminist Women’s Health Center, SisterSong, Planned Parenthood Southeast, Access Reproductive Care Southeast and NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia.
“We know that no one individual, campaign or organization can guarantee reproductive choice on their own,” Abrams’ campaign wrote in a fundraising email. “We can only win this fight by uniting and doing the work together.”
In a tweet later that night, Abrams thanked the more than 187,000 supporters who have invested in her campaign so far and urged them to consider donating to the reproductive freedom organizations as well.
Abrams, who is running unopposed in the May 24 Democratic primary, has raised large sums of money for causes as well as her own candidacy.
Read the full article here.
Lawmakers across the political aisle are using this week’s seismic news that the supreme court is ready to overturn Roe v Wade and ban abortion to electrify the midterms elections, following the shocking news that US justices are prepared to roll back abortion rights.
Vulnerable democrats, specifically in swing districts, are hoping the issue will rally voters. Specifically in Nevada, a state that largely voted in 1999 to codify Roe v Wade, senator Catherine Cortez Masto has used abortion rights to turn voters against her opponent, reports Politico.
In an interview this week, Cortez said:
I have a record in support of a woman’s right to choose. And my opponent, Adam Laxalt, opposes it, and will take it away.
From Cortez via Twitter:
My opponent says that overturning Roe v. Wade and ending protections for a woman’s right to choose is a “historic victory.”
I trust women and their doctors to make the health care decisions that are best for them — not politicians. https://t.co/4SxpKdKEBC
— Catherine Cortez Masto (@CortezMasto) May 3, 2022
Republicans have also used the opportunity to challenge their opponents’ commitment to conservative ideals.
In Georgia, candidate David Perdue challenged incumbent governor Brian Kemp to “promise to call a special session of the legislature to ban abortion outright if the court eliminates federal protections for abortion rights and leaves it to states to set their own laws”, reported the New York Times.
From Perdue via Twitter:
I’m calling on Brian Kemp to join me in calling for an immediate special session of the legislature to ban abortion in Georgia after Roe v. Wade is overturned.
You are either going to fight for the sanctity of life or you’re not. (2/2)
— David Perdue (@DavidPerdueGA) May 5, 2022
Leaked abortion rights decision electrifies midterms
Good morning US live blog readers! This is Gloria Oladipo from the Guardian’s New York office.
Shock from the news that US justices appear ready to roll back abortion rights has electrified midterms, with Democrats hoping to use the issue to motivate voters, reports Politico. Meanwhile, Republicans locked in primaries are using the leak as an opportunity to challenge their opponents to pledge complete bans on abortions.
Donald Trump has been fairly quiet on the Roe v Wade news, despite bringing several conservatives justices to the Supreme Court during his tenure. According to Politico, while the former president never shies away from taking credit for a political accomplishment, he has only addressed the leaked decision in interviews and is waiting on a final ruling to be issued before speaking more widely.
In other news:
- Cities across the nation are bracing for possible civil arrest ahead of large abortion rights gatherings happening throughout the weekend. On Wednesday, 150 officials nationwide joined a call to discuss security concerns in connections to the leaked decision, including possible threats to Supreme Court justices, reported Politico.
- Joe Biden is will be visiting Ohio today to meet with manufacturing leaders at United Performance Metals in Hamilton, Ohio. He is set to deliver remarks at 3.45pm Eastern time.