WASHINGTON — In a continuation of a series examining the motivations of voters in critical states, the focus now turns to how abortion restrictions enacted since 2022 are expected to shape voting patterns among women in North Carolina.
Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to rescind Roe v. Wade, debates surrounding abortion have escalated significantly, positioning the upcoming presidential election as a crucial vote on fundamental rights affecting millions of women.
Navigating a landscape where neighboring southern states impose nearly total abortion bans, North Carolina has opted for a more moderate 12-week restriction following the Supreme Court’s ruling that returned authority over abortion laws to individual states. This legal shift has prompted an influx of women seeking abortions in North Carolina from areas like Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, where access has diminished drastically.
Democratic strategists are optimistic that the abortion issue could galvanize white women voters to support Vice President Kamala Harris. This could be pivotal, especially given that 60% of white women supported former President Donald Trump in the 2020 elections, according to AP VoteCast data. To secure North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes, Harris will need to flip this demographic, previously loyal to Trump.
The report highlights how young women are particularly motivated by abortion rights. For instance, 26-year-old Christy Kishbaugh expresses her anxiety about the experiences shared on social media, where women have been denied vital medical care during pregnancy complications due to state restrictions.
“Thinking ahead, if anything were to go wrong,” Kishbaugh reflected, raising concerns about the health care access for herself and her peers. “The idea that myself, my friends, people close to me, could potentially die or lose a child because they’re not getting access to the health care they need, that really dwells with me.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling has created a contentious environment, resulting in various legislative measures that continue to evolve. Notably, there was a significant rise in voters prioritizing abortion rights in North Carolina, with 10% naming it their top concern in 2022, a dramatic increase from just 3% in 2020, where most of these voters backed Trump.
Jenny Gonzalez, a motivated 21-year-old planning to vote in her first election, shared, “It should be access to all women, no matter the situation, because everyone goes through different things.” As a college student studying pharmacy technology, she understands the complexities of each individual situation regarding abortion.
Democrats are strategically focusing on young women under 35, as campaign adviser Morgan Jackson explains. They are launching compelling advertising campaigns that highlight the potential loss of access should voters support Republican candidates such as Mark Robinson, who aims to impose a total ban on abortion in North Carolina.
Nonetheless, Republicans emphasize that the abortion debate is not the primary concern for many North Carolinians. State Senator Vickie Sawyer suggests that issues like housing and everyday expenses hold more relevance for voters, including her own daughters. She asserts, “They know their rights are protected” under the current 12-week ban that includes certain exceptions.
In contrast, Leyla Herrera, a 20-year-old student at Wake Forest University, expresses concern about rising prices and indicates that her family’s economic challenges influence her political leanings. She is contemplating a vote for Trump, claiming that prices were more manageable during his presidency.
Among older voters, the emphasis on abortion appears less pronounced. For instance, 80-year-old Donna Klein identifies environmental issues as her primary concern, shaped by recent weather disasters. “As an older person, I think about my grandkids. What kind of earth are they going to inherit?” she questioned.
While younger women may be more energized by the topic of abortion, they historically demonstrate lower turnout rates, leading some to express skepticism about how significant an impact they could have. “There might be more young women coming out and voting for Harris,” noted Linda L. Petrou, a seasoned Republican. “But the percentage of young people who vote is relatively small.”
Polling data suggests that nearly 40% of women under 30 view abortion as their paramount political issue, highlighting the potential influence of this demographic in the upcoming elections. Additionally, Laura Browne, a retired Air Force sergeant involved with anti-abortion initiatives, contends that Democrats may be spreading fear regarding medical care access for young women, emphasizing the importance of informing them about all options available.
As North Carolina grapples with these complex issues, the political landscape remains uncertain, with divergent views on the importance of abortion rights shaping voter motivations in different segments of the population.