Protesters, demonstrators and activists gathered in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021, as the justices heard arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, a case about a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks. A draft opinion in the case shows that the court is poised to fully overturn Roe v. Wade. Photo by Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
By Nathan Brown and Camryn Sanchez | Arizona Capitol Times
Democrats want voters to know that Republican gains in the midterms could mean an end to legal abortion in Arizona, and possibly nationwide.
That’s why abortion is quickly becoming the chief campaign issue for Democrats preparing for this year’s primary elections, a constant staple of their campaign rhetoric and fundraising pitches. Democratic candidates for attorney general, county attorney, state treasurer, secretary of state and more are making their stance on abortion clear, and in some cases, offering promises of abortion protection to voters.
“Without Roe’s constitutional protection and without a federal law, states and governors are now the last line of defense for reproductive rights in America,” Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs said in a fundraising email shortly after the U.S. Senate failed to pass legislation protecting abortion rights nationwide. “That means the stakes for women and families in Arizona could not be higher this November. We must win this race and protect reproductive rights at the state level.”
On May 11, Democrats in the U.S. Senate attempted and failed to codify Roe v Wade into law through the Women’s Health Protection Act.
And facing a pending U.S. Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v Wade entirely, Democrats are scrambling for ways to ensure abortion is still legal. Democratic candidates for county and state offices are promising to push back on any abortion bans however they can. And they hope the issue could help them in a midterm that until now was predicted to go badly for Democrats due to concerns about the economy and President Biden’s unpopularity.
