Young NC Women Weigh Abortion Bans in Harris-Trump Decision
TL/DR –
Abortion rights are becoming a major topic ahead of the U.S. presidential election, particularly in North Carolina, where the state’s 12-week abortion ban may affect voters’ allegiance. Data from AP VoteCast suggests that in 2020, just 3% of North Carolina voters marked abortion as a top issue, with the majority of them supporting Donald Trump. However, the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade and the imposition of varied state laws have seen the number of voters prioritizing abortion rise to 10% in 2022, with 80% of them backing a Democratic candidate.
Post-Roe v. Wade Overturn Abortion Tensions Escalate in North Carolina Ahead of Presidential Election
The TikTok feeds of 26-year-old Christy Kishbaugh are filled with haunting stories. One particular video depicting an Idaho mother denied help in emergency rooms due to the state’s abortion ban, left her traumatized. Kishbaugh now fears a similar fate under the new patchwork of state abortion laws.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two years ago, ramped up the political stakes around abortion, intensifying its role in the upcoming presidential election.
White women’s support for Republicans in battleground states like North Carolina, where Trump won 60% of the white female vote in 2020, might be tested with the new 12-week abortion ban. If Trump’s white female support wanes to the national average of 52% in 2020, Vice President Kamala Harris might narrow a win in North Carolina.
Abortion, a top issue for only 3% of North Carolina voters in 2020, has escalated in importance for voters in 2022, with 10% citing it as their highest priority according to AP VoteCast data. The upcoming election will reveal if the access to abortion can sway voters undecided on Harris’s stance on the economy and immigration.
Abortion: A GOP Self-Destructive Weapon?
Morgan Jackson, a campaign adviser for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein, states that the Republicans have pushed their abortion stance too far, alienating women voters.
Moreover, a recent KFF poll shows that 4 out of 10 women under 30 consider abortion as their top issue. However, North Carolina’s relatively moderate approach, allowing some exceptions in the second trimester, might decrease its urgency among voters.
Democrats warn of looming threats to abortion rights if Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, who once vowed to outlaw “abortion in North Carolina for any reason,” wins.
The Harris campaign is targeting suburban white and Latino women, believing that abortion rights can help tip the scales in their favor. In the last stages of the campaign, North Carolina has seen a flurry of visits from both the presidential candidates.
Economy Still Tops Abortion for Some Republicans
While Republicans downplay the abortion issue, they emphasize other concerns like taxpayer-funded transgender surgery and the Biden administration’s Hurricane Helene response.
Many older women, even Democrats, tend to see abortion as a secondary issue compared to younger women. For Republican Linda L. Petrou, abortion might attract younger women to vote for Harris but voter turnout amongst young people is customarily small.
Abortion rights are a contentious issue for some Republican women. Robin Spadt, a Canadian immigrant, remains undecided due to Trump’s controversial remarks and her personal conflict about her granddaughters’ future body autonomy rights.
—
Read More US News; North Carolina News