WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — For 26-year-old Christy Kishbaugh, haunting TikTok videos serve as a stark reminder of the urgent issues surrounding abortion access. One particularly impactful video featured a young mother lamenting how emergency rooms in Idaho denied her care due to the state’s abortion restrictions, forcing her to endure weeks of bleeding following a miscarriage. Kishbaugh frequently shares such videos with friends, unable to comprehend the reality they depict.
At a local park, amidst the chatter of families and friends, Kishbaugh reflects on the precariousness of her reproductive health rights in light of recent state-level bans restricting abortion access. “If anything were to go wrong,” she voices softly while sipping her iced coffee, “the notion that my friends or I could face life-threatening situations due to a lack of necessary healthcare weighs heavily on me.”
In the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court rescinded Roe v. Wade, public discourse around abortion has intensified, positioning the upcoming presidential election as a pivotal moment for millions of women’s rights. Historically, the Republican Party has found strong backing from white women in states like Georgia, Florida, and Texas, who cast their votes for the party in greater numbers than the national average. Yet, in a competitive battleground such as North Carolina—where Donald Trump garnered 60% of white women’s votes in the 2020 election—the introduction of a 12-week abortion ban may risk alienating this crucial demographic.
If Trump’s approval ratings among white women in North Carolina align more closely with the national average, which stood at around 52% in 2020, his bid for the state’s 16 electoral votes could be jeopardized. This dynamic opens the door for Vice President Kamala Harris to potentially win the state if even a small fraction of white women chooses her over Trump, who secured North Carolina by a margin of just 1.3 percentage points in 2020—the tightest race of his campaign.
In 2020, abortion was a priority for only 3% of North Carolina voters, almost all of whom were Trump supporters drawn to his commitment to appoint justices who could overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that upheld women’s rights to abortion for nearly fifty years. With the Supreme Court now deferring abortion legislation to state governments, the matter remains contentious, with many states enacting differing restrictions. Harris has highlighted the repercussions of these laws in her campaign, noting that a growing segment of North Carolina voters—around 10% in 2022—now prioritize abortion rights. Notably, almost 80% of the voters who emphasized abortion as their top issue supported Democratic candidates in statewide elections.
This looming presidential contest will test the significance of abortion access for this group, probing whether their concerns can outweigh any reservations they might have about Harris’s positions on the economy and immigration, among other topics. Democrats, including Josh Stein’s campaign in North Carolina, are targeting younger female voters, asserting that Republicans have taken an extreme stance on abortion and are seeking to exert control over women’s healthcare decisions. Campaign adviser Morgan Jackson pointedly remarked, “Republicans have detonated a hand grenade within their own camp, presuming unwavering support from women. The reality is far more complex.”
As recent polling indicates, nearly 40% of women under 30 list abortion as their primary concern. However, North Carolina stands out as one of the southern states without the stringent restrictions that have severely limited access in others. This less aggressive approach may make the issue feel less pressing for many voters in the state, according to Republican State Senator Vickie Sawyer, who references conversations with her adult daughters about their priorities. Though the topic of abortion arises, it often takes a back seat to concerns about the rising cost of living.
“While it’s an issue that could significantly impact them, they also feel secure knowing that the state’s 12-week abortion law includes exceptions,” Sawyer explained. Still, Democrats are warning that the threat to abortion rights remains substantial, particularly with the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, having pledged to ban abortion entirely in North Carolina. Advertisements during NFL games have featured personal testimonies from women sharing their near-fatal experiences in emergency rooms due to restrictive policies that limited medical care.
With high enthusiasm apparent among Black women voters, Harris’s campaign seeks to leverage the abortion narrative to court suburban white and Latino women as well. Historically, North Carolina has not favored Democratic presidential candidates since Barack Obama in 2008. In the critical weeks leading up to the election, political activity has intensified, with Trump visiting storm-affected areas and Harris rallying significant crowds at community events.
As record-breaking voter turnout is observed, Harris’ campaign is emphasizing the importance of abortion rights under a potential second Trump presidency. Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, stressed to a crowd in Winston-Salem the need to protect the rights and lives of women, urging voters to scrutinize Trump’s assurances about not enforcing a national abortion ban.
Harris’s campaign is robust in North Carolina, employing a vast network with 29 field offices and over 340 staff dedicated to engaging younger and Black voters. Trump’s team has redirected inquiries regarding his campaign strategy to Sawyer, representing a conservative area of Charlotte. The Harris campaign may discover untapped electoral potential in Forsyth County, which has seen demographic shifts bringing in a blend of young professionals, college students, and women who might lean towards more progressive candidates.
At Forsyth Technical Community College, 21-year-old student Jenny Gonzalez shared how the abortion debate prompted her to register for her first election. She plans to vote for Harris, asserting, “Access to abortion should be available to all women, as individual circumstances vary significantly.”.
Driving southeast to Fayetteville, 48-year-old Christine Ducheneaux echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of personal autonomy in reproductive choices. “I have no issue with medical professionals making decisions about health, but it’s absurd for politicians to dictate what’s best for my life or family,” she said.
Meanwhile, Liz “Gruesome” Haycraft, a 44-year-old tattoo artist and former Republican, now holds a conflicting stance on abortion. Although she has no intention of starting a family, she is deeply concerned about other women facing healthcare barriers. “No woman should have to risk her life or freedom in such situations,” she stated, confirming her support for Harris.
In contrast, Laura Browne, a 45-year-old anti-abortion advocate, expressed concern that Democratic narratives are instilling fear in young women about their options. Stationed outside a Planned Parenthood clinic, she endeavored to share anti-abortion messaging with passersby, arguing against what she views as a singular approach to women’s healthcare. “Women deserve to hear diverse perspectives, especially when it comes to such impactful decisions,” Browne contended.
As for Republicans, many downplay the significance of abortion in their campaign strategies. Trump’s ads focus on criticizing Harris for her support of transgender healthcare options, while local GOP members question the Biden administration’s response to recent tragedies like Hurricane Helene. Linda L. Petrou, a longtime Republican strategist in Forsyth, recognizes that while abortion may energize younger women, historical voting patterns show that young voters often turn out in lower percentages, which could mitigate overall electoral impacts.
Older women, including some Democrats, tend to view abortion as secondary to pressing issues like climate change. Eighty-year-old retiree Donna Klein prioritizes environmental concerns, driven largely by worries for her grandchildren’s future. “We have to be proactive about fixing our planet for the next generation,” Klein remarked, highlighting how the recent hurricanes underscore climate issues.
Petrou maintains that Republicans are banking on voter dissatisfaction with the economy to consolidate support for Trump. For instance, 20-year-old Leyla Herrera, a biology student at Wake Forest, conveyed her economic worries alongside thoughts on abortion. She reflected on how higher costs for food and gas have affected her family financially and noted her ambivalence towards the current laws impacting abortion access. “I feel lucky for the conditions that allowed my birth,” she mused, weighing her complex feelings on the issue.
Republican women also find themselves grappling with their beliefs this election cycle. Robin Spadt, a grandmother, is still undecided about her vote, having previously supported Trump but now questioning his recent comments. “I want to make sure my granddaughters have control over their bodies,” she expressed, so her sentiments toward abortion rights weigh heavily on her decision-making process as Election Day approaches.