In an election that is usually overshadowed by a host of issues and events, ABORTION RIGHTS assumes an important role in America once again. Exactly one year after the shock waves of overturning Roe v. Wade, abortion laws have hit America. Democrats become excited about this controversial topic and Republicans start trying to decide what they can do regarding it, noticing that it might influence congressional elections and lead them to lose the White House in 2024.
2023 November elections will be a GAUGE on both sides. Their intention is to polish their message on ABORTION RIGHTS and define abortion access for several states, especially in the South and mid-West regions. Below is the preview into major states and their stand on ABORTION during this year’s polls.
Virginia: A Crucible for ABORTION RIGHTS
Politics of Virginia has been an alternating power play between Democrats and Republicans. Currently, Republicans are in control of at least one legislative chamber and the governor’s office, thus enabling them to attain a TRIFECTA within the state. Such can result in imposing of a Fifteen-Week Abortion Ban.
Virginia is one of several locations in which REPUBLICANS publicly argue for a BLANKET PROHIBITION on terminating pregnancies after fifteen weeks. In fact, such a ban would not be limited to the Southeastern part of the United States and would possibly even resonate through all of America.
Indeed, Virginia remains unique among Southern States as the only one that has not significantly limited abortion availability since the Roe v. Wade ruling. It has become the place of REFUGE for ABORTIONISTS from the surrounding area as a result, this status. Abortion providers are seeing increased numbers of YOUNG LADIES arriving at their doors in later stages of pregnancy to seek ABORTIONS due to its increasing difficulty and consequently stresses on the urgency of sustaining POST FIFTEEN-WEEK ABORTIONS.
In Virginia, ABORTION has become the MAIN POINT OF DISPUTE during an upcoming election with the RECENT STATISTICS from Wason Center at Christopher Newport University, noting that 72% of voters insist on keeping ABORTION RESTRICTIONS as it is, or reducing them. There is less consensus in opinion as regards a Fifteen-Week ban which only gets support from 54%.
Pennsylvania: A Pivotal SUPREME COURT CONTEST
Traditionally, Pennsylvania, a PURPLE STATE, is often viewed as a BELLWETHER on what issues such as ABORTION can say about the nation at large. They turn their attention towards a HOTLY CONTESTED RACE with regard to a position in the state’s SUPREME COURT between the Republican Carolyn Carluccio and Democrat Dan McCaffery. Although this election will not determine the PARTISAN AFFILIATION in the U.S., it may alter the balance in upcoming fights concerning REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.
ABORTION is the CORE ARGUMENT in McCaffery’s PLATFORM advocating for the importance of the RIGHT OF CHOICE through an informed conscience and physician. In contrast, however, Carluccio has toned down her stand on the matter, whereby her campaign website no longer makes reference to her as “A DEFENDER OF ALL LIFE UNDER LAW.” Additionally, when questioned whether there could be some safeguards for ABORTION RIGHTS in the Constitution of Pennsylvania
Kentucky: The GUBERNATORIAL RACE AND ABORTIONS.
Surprisingly, Kentucky state REJECTED an amendment that was created to make it absolutely clear there’s no protection of ABORTION in the country’s CONSTITUTION.
ABORTION is again the HEADLINE for the GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION with Daniel Cameron, the Republican ATTORNEY GENERAL and the incumbent Democrat of Andy Beshear.
Currently, Kentucky has a PROVISION that makes ABORTION ILLEGAL except for rare cases like pregnancies from RAPE or INCEST. In fact, Cameron has been advocating for such LIMITATIONS for AGES.
He suggested in September that this could include EXCEPTIONS for PREGNANCY RELATED TO INCEST or RAPE, but the following month he stated this would largely depend on the COURTS. ABORTION ACCESS in the state is likely to be AFFECTED by the RESULTS of the ELECTION.
Ohio: A REFERENDUM ON ABORTION RIGHTS
This year, Ohio is the ONLY STATE where VOTERS will make DECISIONS regarding these issues via REFERENDA. It hopes to add a CLAUSE to the state CONSTITUTION that PROTECTS the RIGHT OF EVERY WOMAN to access SAFE LEGAL ABORTIONS. At present, Ohio has a STAY-INJUNCTIONED Six-Week ABORTION PROHIBITION lawsuit which will soon be REPEALED. This ban will depend on the OUTCOME of a REFERENDUM.
The REPUBLICANS in Ohio were able to REWORD the QUESTION for the REFERENDUM by using the term ‘UNBORN CHILD’. However, in PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS with ABORTION BALLOTS, the PRO-CHOICE ADVOCATES have always WON. A Survey conducted by Baldwin Wallace College Suggests that CLOSE TO SIXTY PERCENT of Ohio VOTERS are likely to VOTE ‘YES’ on an AMENDMENT prohibiting any INTERFERENCE with REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.
New Jersey: Democrats Stress ABORTION RIGHTS
Democrat VOTE SEEKERS in New Jersey take ADVANTAGE of the fact that ABORTION RIGHTS do not HANG BY A THREAD and use it in their FAVOR. In spite of this ADVANTAGE, they have CENTERED on ABORTION as an ISSUE, WARNING that should the CONSERVATIVES take OVER Florida-like HEALTH CARE RESTRICTIONS might be IMPOSED.
New Jersey is considered a DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD, with a HIGH NUMBER OF REGISTERED DEMOCRATS; therefore, it is UNLIKELY that the REPUBLICAN PARTY will WIN. In addition, LEGISLATORS in New Jersey have already PASSED LEGISLATION that sees ABORTION as being a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
Mississippi: ABORTION Takes a Backseat
Mississippi, which was the HEART of the ROE’S OVERTURN and where they have ALMOST TOTAL ABORTION BAN, differs from most of the COUNTRY; for example, Democrat Brandon Presley isn’t ENTIRELY COUNTING ON the VOTES about the ABORTION to WIN. The MAJOR CAMPAIGN for a DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR is EXPANDING MEDICAID. Presley USES HIMSELF as a PROP for PRO-LIFE POSITION in ADVERTISEMENT stating that HE IS UNIQUE AMONG DEMOCRATS over ABORTION.
The RACE for ELECTORAL VOTES in Mississippi is still OPEN, with 42 PERCENT for the DEMOCRAT MEMBER OF LOCAL STATE LEGISLATURE and 41 PERCENT for the REPUBLICAN.
Key TakeAways
As such, the 2023 ELECTIONS in several US States become a CRUCIAL POINT within the DISCUSSION on ABORTION. These OUTCOMES will also DETERMINE STATE-LEVEL ABORTION POLICIES and their SIGNIFICANCE will go FAR BEYOND STATE-LEVEL POLITICS.
