The Limits of Abortion Politics

“Democrats are scrambling to put state abortion-rights initiatives on the ballot this year in the hope that the measures will drive turnout and boost their candidates in national and local elections,” Politico reports.

“But those initiatives may not give Democrats the lift they are aiming for, according to a Politico analysis of five abortion-related measures that have appeared on the ballot since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.”

“Voters decisively upheld abortion rights in every single case. But those margins were largely driven by Republican voters who also voted for GOP candidates. And Democratic turnout didn’t consistently increase in states with abortion referendums compared to those without. Several Democrats who were on the same ballots as abortion measures lost their races. Meanwhile, many Democrats who ran as champions of abortion rights even in states without accompanying referendums outperformed expectations.”