IN THE STATES: MAGA Republicans’ Anti-Choice Agenda on Display A Year After Dobbs
June 23, 2023
Ahead of tomorrow’s one year anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, MAGA Republicans across the country remain on defense over their ongoing efforts to rip away women’s freedoms to make their own health care decisions.
On Wednesday, the DNC launched a six-figure national and local paid media campaign across the U.S. in battleground states as well as Times Square and Washington D.C., highlighting Republicans’ efforts to pass a nationwide abortion ban.
- CBS News: DNC to raise billboards in Times Square, across U.S. to highlight abortion rights a year after Roe v. Wade struck down
- In Florida:
- Florida Politics: National Democrats’ media buy seeks to focus voters’ minds on abortion rights under threat
- Florida Phoenix: Democrats predict abortion access, reproductive rights will be key issues in 2024
- CBS 47: DNC launches new ad highlighting abortion restrictions in key battleground states, including Florida
- In Georgia:
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: National Dems push abortion
rights in battleground Georgia
- Atlanta News First: Democrats launch huge ad blitz on abortion in Georgia
Across the country, Democrats from Wisconsin to Florida to Nevada held press events to slam the GOP’s extreme anti-choice agenda and to highlight what’s at stake ahead of the 2024 election cycle.
- In Connecticut:
- WFSB 3: State leaders reaffirm a woman’s right to choose in CT
- CT News Junkie: A Year After the Fall of Roe v. Wade, Democrats Keep the Focus on Abortion
- CT Insider: Officials: CT will remain a safe harbor for abortion care and reproductive rights
- WTNH: On anniversary of Dobbs, Democrats stress abortion is legal in Connecticut
- WSHU: Reproductive healthcare in Connecticut remains strong one year post Roe vs. Wade’s overturn
- In Florida:
- Florida Phoenix: Democrats lack faith in FL Supreme Court to uphold abortion rights in state
- WPTV: Florida’s abortion access remains uncertain as state Supreme Court decision and 2024 elections loom
- In Iowa: Iowa Capital Dispatch: Democrats predict abortion access, reproductive rights will be key issues in 2024
- In Maine: Spectrum News Maine: On Dobbs anniversary, Republican candidates struggle with abortion messaging
- In Pennsylvania:
- Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Democrats predict abortion access, reproductive rights will be key issues in 2024
- Patch News Phoenixville, PA: Lawmakers Rally For Abortion Rights To Remain In Pennsylvania
- In South Carolina: FOX 57: Democratic leaders meet on one-year anniversary of Roe v Wade overturning
- In Wisconsin:
- Channel 3000 News: Wisconsin Democrats rally at Capitol ahead of anniversary of abortion decision
- WORT FM News: Upcoming Dobbs Decision Anniversary Prompts Action From Lawmakers
- Spectrum News 1 Milwaukee: Biden for President National Advisory Board Member Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler
Throughout the week, Democratic leaders took to local air waves to highlight MAGA Republicans’ attacks on reproductive freedom and Democrats’ efforts to restore Roe. As just a few examples:
- In California: Biden for President National Advisory Board Member Rep. Ami Bera on KCRA: “You still see it as one of the number one driving issues, certainly for women, but also for Democrats, but you also see it increasingly as an issue that Republican members of Congress and Republican elected officials want to try to avoid talking about because I think they understand that they’re out of step with where the American public is.”
- In Illinois: Biden for President National Co-Chair Sen. Tammy Duckworth on ABC 7 Chicago: “The numbers of women traveling into Illinois from out of state to access reproductive health care has grown exponentially. In many of these clinics it’s as much as eighty percent of the women that they are providing healthcare to are from out of state.”
In Wisconsin: Biden for President National Advisory Board Member Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway on WKOW: “That is a very salient issue for voters. President Biden has said he wants to codify Roe v. Wade into law and to protect the rights that women have relied on for 50 years. The president wants more rights, not fewer.”
And, local editorial pages highlighted MAGA Republicans’ efforts to take away the right for women to make their own health care decisions. Just a few examples:
- In California: Los Angeles Times: Editorial: The post-Roe strategy: Elect more abortion access champions
- In Illinois: Chicago Sun Times: A year after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Illinois is fighting hard to protect abortion rights
- In Nevada: Reno Gazette Journal: DeSantis’ abortion ban is failing Floridians — it has no place in Nevada
- In New Hampshire: New Hampshire Bulletin: One year post-Roe, sitting on the sidelines is ‘inexcusable’
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris joined Joy Reid on “The ReidOut” for a panel discussion about abortion access, maternal health and mortality, and the importance of reproductive rights ahead of the 2024 election cycle, just days before the anniversary of the Dobbs decision.
- In Texas: Dallas Morning News: Texas abortion advocates, providers describe the state of reproductive care to VP Harris
Also on Tuesday, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden also held a roundtable discussion with women who have been critically impacted by the Dobbs decision at the White House.
- In New York: Spectrum News NY 1: First lady hosts roundtable with women impacted by abortion ruling ahead of Dobbs anniversary
- In Texas: The Dallas Morning News: Dallas mom tells first lady of ‘demeaning’ ordeal with doomed fetus, Texas abortion ban
Finally tomorrow, the Vice President will travel to North Carolina to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
- In North Carolina:
- Charlotte Observer: VP Harris will discuss abortion in NC, days before state’s 12-week ban takes effect
- ABC 11: Vice President Harris to mark year of SCOTUS overturning Roe v Wade
- WSOCTV: VP Harris to discuss abortion rights in Charlotte