By: Ella Wang

Last Friday, Republicans supported the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade, which granted women the constitutional right of abortion nearly 50 years ago. Democrats are displeased and plan to fight back at the ballot box in November.

Democrats say that this decision harms the rights of millions in the U.S.

“Now with Roe gone, let’s be very clear: the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk,” said President Biden, in an article from The Guardian. “If any state or local official, high or low, tries to interfere with a woman’s exercise of her basic right to travel, I will do everything in my power to fight that deeply un-American attack…”

Barack Obama wrote, in an article from The Guardian: “Today, the supreme court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues – attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans.”

Democratic candidates for governor, attorney general and offices at the state level, pledged to put the issue at the forefront of their campaigns.

“We are facing a watershed moment for our constitutional rights,” said Cheri Beasley, the Democratic Senate nominee in North Carolina. “I hope you all know that this doesn’t end this, that the threats don’t stop here.” She urged supporters, “This November let us run, not walk, to the polls.”

On the other hand, some Republicans supported the ruling while others were focused on other matters such as the economic challenges facing Americans.

The Republican House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, wrote: “Every unborn child is precious, extraordinary, and worthy of protection. I applaud this historic ruling, which will save countless innocent lives. The court is right to return the power to protect the unborn to the people’s elected representatives in Congress and the states.”

However, other Republicans are more focused on solving the economic crisis.

“Roe doesn’t change settled law and it won’t distract voters from unaffordable prices, rising crime or the border crisis,” said Adam Laxalt, the Republican Senate nominee in Nevada, which has a state law legalizing abortion.

With the overturning of this constitutional right, laws regarding abortions have fell to the hands of each state. More than a dozen states already have laws banning most abortions and more states could ban the procedure soon due to previously blocked laws that could take effect, including Georgia and Ohio.

Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/26/democrats-republicans-midterms-abortion-/