Democrats are already spending heavily on ads focused on abortion rights in the months leading up to the midterm elections. Supreme Court overturns landmark Roe v. Wade decision earlier this year. Democrats’ victory in a special election in New York on Tuesday night could further push their abortion message ahead of the November election. Some Republicans have now turned against the Democrats’ message line.
Since the draft Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Democrats have spent about $30 million on more than 100 TV commercials that specifically mention abortion. Give way Early May. This is according to AdImpact tracking.
Democrats also spent nearly $7 million on Facebook ads that included abortion in the text. Bipartisan committees, super PACs and candidates have all channeled funds to abortion as an election issue.
Earlier this month, Kansas Voter Results The hordes — election-level numbers — vetoed an amendment that would have removed the state’s constitutional right to abortion — suggesting abortion rights are an issue that has prompted Americans to appear in the polls, even in conservative states with summer primaries So. But the question remains about whether abortion rights will motivate voters to vote for candidates, and not just when abortion itself is on the ballot.
In New York’s Hudson Valley’s 19th District, Democratic candidate Pat Ryan has made abortion rights a central part of his campaign in the special election, a final test for voters in swing districts before heading to the polls in November . This week, he finally defeated Republican Mark Molinaro by about two percentage points.
“This is really a referendum on American freedom and we’re here to send a loud and clear message that when people try to take away the rights and freedoms we fought for, to work and to come together, Americans will stand up and say That’s not us as a country,” Ryan told CBS News after the win. He said he believed the momentum would continue.
Even before the 19th District victory — Democrats had invested heavily in abortion ads, the message only intensified in the days following that victory.
In one of the most competitive House races this cycle, Rep. Abigail Spanberg, D-Va. dropped a new ad On Friday, she went after her Republican opponent on abortion, claiming Yesli Vega supports a blanket ban on abortion. It was rushed into production after the New York special election.
On Wednesday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced a six-figure ad buy targeting Latino voters in battleground areas, highlighting the GOP’s role in restricting abortion. It’s part of a seven-figure buyout that the House campaign has been rolling out to specifically target voters of color. There are also ads targeting AAPI and black voters.
The Democratic Senate campaign also expects abortion rights to play a big role in all Senate battleground races. One official noted that it was a clear way to compare candidates in the race.
On Friday, a group affiliated with the Democratic-led Senate Majority PAC began running its latest ad In North Carolina, Republican Senate candidate Ted Budd’s past support for legislation banning abortion has been highlighted. The total purchase amount is $750,000. Earlier this month, the Senate Majority PAC began running other abortion-related ads in North Carolina and Arizona.
In Texas, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke steps down two ads On Thursday, he made his first TV appearance, addressing incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott’s abortion access issue in the state. They hit the airwaves on the same day that Texas triggered the abortion ban to go into effect.
This past week, Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams also launched a new TV ad slamming Republican Gov. Brian Kemp for abortion; Democratic candidate for re-election in Nevada Assemblyman Catherine Cortez-Masto released an ad targeting her opponent, former Republican state attorney general Adam Laxalter, using his audio calling Roe v. Wade Case decision is a joke; in Colorado, Senator Michael Bennet joins growing ranks of Democrats Abortion ads He released his own ad last week.
While Democrats have been spending tens of millions of dollars on abortion-related ads, Republicans have spent only a fraction on the issue, neither touting a new Supreme Court conservative majority decision on Dobbs nor Promote Republican action at the state level.
Since the draft Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade leaked in May, Republicans have spent more than $5.3 million on TV ads mentioning abortion. Less than $1 million was spent on Facebook ads that included abortion in the text. Part of the information comes from Republicans, who are not conservative enough on the issue of abortion against Republican candidates.
Ahead of an election season facing uphill battles, some Republicans appear to be withdrawing their stance on abortion, while others are keeping their statements vague. But pressure is mounting, with several candidates feeling compelled to respond directly to Democrats’ attacks.
In a recent abortion-related ad by a Republican, Washington Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley went straight to the camera after Democratic Senator Patty Murray posted an ad slamming her for abortion.
Murray’s ad accused Smiley of supporting Texas’ abortion ban and said it only takes one vote in Congress to “criminalize abortion.” In it, the narrator says “against Tiffany Smiley before it’s too late”.
smiley face posted thursday her own ad In response, Murray spent millions portraying her as an extremist.
“I’m pro-life, but I’m against the federal abortion ban,” Smiley said, looking at the camera. “Patty Murray wants to scare you, I want to serve you.” When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Smiley said that meant the people’s representatives would make a decision on regulating abortion, but she did not say what regulations she would like to see . However, she has previously said she agrees with Texas’ near-total abortion ban.
On Thursday, Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters also proposed Abortion ads – Tried to paint Democratic Senator Mark Kelly as someone who was extreme. Kelly has been running ads saying the Masters is too dangerous for Arizona.
“Look, I support banning very late and partial birth abortions, and most Americans agree with that,” Masters said. He called the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision dire, after previously expressing support for the federal Personality Amendment without specifying that abortion should be banned weeks later. NBC News first reported Thursday that his website had the language of personality laws removed.
Republicans aren’t just trying to fend off abortion attacks in ads. Last week, Cortez-Mastro responded in an op-ed aimed at turning things around when he went after Laxarte in an abortion ad. In it, he reiterated that abortion is an established law in Nevada. He also reiterated his support for a referendum to further limit abortions in the state to 13 weeks.
Abortion has become increasingly important among Americans’ concerns ahead of the midterm elections, recent polls have found. Most Americans disapprove of Roe v. Wade being overturned and support abortion being legal in their state in all or most circumstances.
Scott MacFarlane contributed reporting.
