Two-Year Anniversary of Dobbs Ruling: A Look at the Impact on Reproductive Rights in Battleground States
June 24, 2024 marks the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, which overturned Roe v. Wade and stripped away women's constitutional protections for abortion. In commemoration of this significant date, Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden are traveling to battleground states to highlight the importance of reproductive rights in upcoming elections.
Vice President Harris will be campaigning in Arizona and Maryland, while First Lady Jill Biden will visit Pittsburgh and Lancaster in Pennsylvania. These trips come as part of a larger effort by the Biden-Harris campaign to draw contrasts with Republicans on the issue of reproductive rights and blame former President Donald Trump for abortion bans across the country.
Abortion is a top concern for voters ahead of November's general election, and both parties are vying to appeal to this key demographic. In Arizona, Vice President Harris will focus on the impact of restrictions on reproductive freedom on Latinos, a significant voter demographic. She has participated in over 85 events across the country focused on reproductive rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Meanwhile, First Lady Jill Biden will be visiting Pennsylvania, where there is a competitive Senate race. Her trip comes after John Legend praised his wife Chrissy Teigen for sharing her abortion story with Vice President Harris at the White House earlier this month. Teigen's experience of having an abortion at the Feminist Women's Health Center in Atlanta, Georgia, was actually what saved her life after a miscarriage.
The Dobbs ruling has had far-reaching consequences beyond just abortion. Doctors can now face jail for providing necessary reproductive care, leading to provider shortages in many states. Nearly every Republican US Senator, including Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, refused to vote to protect access to contraception and family building services like IVF.
Amendment 4 in Florida would undo the state's near-total abortion ban and allow voters to have a say on reproductive rights. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Democrat, fiercely defends reproductive rights and opposes Florida Senator Rick Scott on this issue. However, two Florida Supreme Court justices, Renatha Francis and Meredith Sasso, tried to block voters from deciding on Amendment 4.
As we reflect on the past two years since the Dobbs ruling, it is clear that reproductive rights are under attack in many states. The Biden-Harris campaign is working to ensure that women's voices are heard and their rights are protected. Only by staying informed and engaged can we make a difference in this critical election year.