By Anna Seigel (MPA ’22)

In the past year and a half, there has been a disturbing increase in assaults on abortion access led by the GOP. In 2021 alone, there were over 90 abortion restrictions enacted, making it the most dangerous year for abortion access since Roe v. Wade passed in 1973. In the past few weeks, Florida and Kentucky have passed 15-week abortion bans with no exceptions for rape or incest. Recently in Oklahoma, Republican Governor Kevin Stitt signed a law that bans all abortions, unless necessary to save a pregnant person’s life, and makes performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

These overt attacks on abortion and women’s bodily autonomy are not random, but part of a coordinated strategy of the Republican Party. This strategy, thus far successful, aims to restrict abortion access as much as possible, while the Supreme Court has a conservative majority and is likely to render a decision in June that will overturn Roe v. Wade and federal protections for abortion access. Clearly, abortion access and reproductive freedom are at a crisis point in the United States. 

The Republican Party’s attack on abortion access is growing more and more extreme, and there should be concern over where future legislation could extend. This shift in the Republican Party in the past few years coincides with a shift in narrative: gone is the guise that abortion restrictions are to “protect” the pregnant person, and in its place is the outright prioritization of “fetal rights.” 

This change sheds light on how little Republican politicians care about maternal and women’s health. It is known that abortion restrictions do not lead to fewer abortions, but rather to more potentially dangerous abortions. Moreover, states with more abortion restrictions have a higher rate of maternal deaths, which is disproportionately higher for women of color and low-income women.

This extremist strategy and blatant disregard for public health outcomes should show the public the truth: that the Republican Party’s anti-abortion agenda is at its core sexist, racist, and classist. These measures are putting women’s and pregnant people’s lives and bodily autonomy at risk, in exchange for political gain and power.  

It is time for the Democratic Party to step up and go on the offensive for abortion rights and prioritize reproductive health. Democratic politicians do not have unified messaging or language around abortion, as moderates continue to avoid saying abortion, and opt to say phrases such as “reproductive rights” and “right to choose.” Even President Biden, the leader of the Democratic Party, didn’t use the word abortion until a press statement issued 224 days into his presidency, when the dangerous six-week abortion ban was passed in Texas. Party leaders need to set an example for what Democratic politicians must do at this moment: be outspoken and unapologetic champions for abortion access. 

With the midterm elections approaching, championing abortion access is not only necessary to protect reproductive health and freedom, but also crucial for political support. Public opinion does not support extreme abortion restrictions. A 2021 Pew Research poll found that about 6 in 10 Americans — and 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents — think that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. It is clear that the large majority of the Democratic voter base supports abortion access and would thus support strong advocates of abortion access. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 70% of independents support Roe v. Wade and federal protection of abortion access, which should also motivate Democratic legislators to act. Ultimately, championing abortion access can be politically beneficial for Democratic legislators. 

The time of Democratic politicians viewing abortion as a potentially divisive or taboo political topic, one to avoid or compromise on, needs to end now. Abortions are vital health care that saves lives and allows pregnant people to control their bodily autonomy. There should be nothing controversial about this. Women and pregnant people should be able to make reproductive health care decisions as they would any other kind. 

The Democratic Party needs to finally stand up for abortion rights and unapologetically and aggressively protect reproductive freedom. The Democratic Party has been on defense for far too long, and now is the time to play offense. 

Anna Seigel is a second-year MPA candidate studying Social Policy and Gender Policy.