Beyond the Bench: Roe v. Wade and the Crucial Role of Abortion Rights in the 2024 Presidential Election
On Friday, June 24, 2022, a pivotal moment occurred as the United States Supreme Court voted six to three, signaling the end of nearly half a century of abortion rights in the country. This decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will have an impact on the political arena for years to come.
Visual Credit: Gayatri Malhotra
In 1973, the Supreme Court voted in favour of Roe based on a woman’s “right to privacy.” This vote has been regarded among the most controversial decisions in the court’s history. For the decades that followed, the Roe v. Wade legislation protected American women in their access to safe abortion. In the wake of the 2022 decision, the question of reproductive healthcare has become a major concern in the upcoming presidential election. In other words, 2024 marks the most important election for women in American history.
Healthcare has become a deeply politicized conversation in the United States, signifying a new normal in state-to-state legislative change. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center poll, almost two-thirds of American voters opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade with 62% of Americans saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Following the Dobbs decision, the majority of voters have favoured the Democrat’s stance on abortion in comparison to the Republican policies. This favour has led a greater number of states measuring in favour of healthcare rights, including traditionally Republican states such as Kansas, Kentucky, and Ohio. This is cause for concern for Republicans as they approach the 2024 election, aiming to appeal not only to voters opposed to abortion rights but moderates as well. For Republicans, this poses a dilemma, particularly since former President Donald Trump has expressed pride in his efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, going as far as stating, "After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to overturn Roe v. Wade, much to the 'shock' of everyone."
Prior to the state elections in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio, national polls had indicated Trump’s significant lead over Biden. However, it is clear that Trump’s role in the Dobbs decision could now become a decisive factor in Biden’s potential victory this November. Presently, Biden trails behind Trump in the polls due to underperformance among youth and minority voters. Nonetheless, Democrats are not concerned, as polling data suggests that these groups are highly motivated by their position on abortion rights, indicating they are likely to support the candidate who aligns with their views. In this context, healthcare has the potential to change the outcome of this election. As previously stated, the majority of Americans feel as if access to these rights is important, which is good news for Democrats.
The 2024 presidential election marks a major turning point for women’s healthcare in the United States. Access to abortion will be a major consideration in the polls within the post-Roe v. Wade era. This election proves that the right to abortion is all part of a man’s game of political catch and release. The politicization of women’s bodies is not a not a novel concept, but what is concerning is the realization that healthcare, an inherently personal matter, holds significant sway in the election of one of the world’s most influential figures.
Sidney (she/her) is a third-year Political Studies student and one of Political Digest’s Editorials Editors.