„Abortion is now the most important issue“

Juliane Schäuble, U.S. correspondent for the Tagesspiegel, writes about how important the issue of abortion rights is to the outcome of the presidential election.

By Juliane Schäuble

Is it “It’s the economy, stupid” all over again? The worries and hardships caused by persistently high food and housing prices are concerning many voters. Adding to this is the anger fueled by the Republicans about illegal immigration, which many Americans feel threatened by.

But there are experts who warn against underestimating another key issue: the anger of women across the country over restrictions on their civil liberties since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling and handed decisions on abortion rights to the individual states.

This anger has enormous mobilizing potential, especially among young voters and in the crucial swing states. The potential of this issue has already been seen in the 2022 midterms and other elections. The fact that Kamala Harris, who for months has been the face of the administration’s response to Roe v. Wade, has become the Democratic presidential nominee has further electrified many women.

According to a recent survey by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research and polling organization, abortion is now the most important issue in the November election for 40 percent of women under 30 surveyed. In early June, only half as many said that.

And according to a July poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about 6 in 10 Americans say their state should generally allow a person to get a legal abortion for any reason if she doesn’t want to be pregnant.

The attempt by Donald Trump and his Republicans not to address the issue anymore is going nowhere. They rightly fear the mobilization of citizen-led ballot measures to protect abortion rights that will be on the ballot in nine states on November 5.

Heartbeat laws in more and more states, two deaths of women denied abortions in the swing state of Georgia, artificial insemination in the sights of ultra-religious politicians and judges: Pro-choice advocates hope voters will remember what’s at stake in a post-Roe America.

Juliane Schäuble is U.S. correspondent for the Tagesspiegel and a Member and Young Leaders Alumna of Atlantik-Brücke from the class of 2008.