HOUSTON — Vice President Kamala Harris is set to join forces with Beyoncé this Friday in a rally located in Texas, a state that predominantly supports Republican candidates. The event aims to shed light on the severe medical implications resulting from Texas’ stringent abortion restrictions, while also pointing fingers at Donald Trump for these developments.
This initiative is not just focused on Texas but aims to resonate in political battleground states, with Harris hoping that the repercussions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade will motivate voters to rally behind her presidential ambitions.
At the rally, Harris will share the platform with women who have faced life-threatening conditions, such as sepsis and miscarriage complications, stemming from inadequate medical care due to restrictive laws. These women, who had no intention of terminating their pregnancies, have begun campaigning for Harris, sharing their distressing experiences in ads that highlight the issue as one that transcends the right to choose.
Since the imposition of stricter abortion laws in Texas, statistics show a troubling rise in infant mortality rates, a spike in deaths due to birth defects, and increased maternal mortality.
With the presidential race tightening, the Democratic nominee is banking on abortion rights to galvanize voters, notably appealing to Republican women. This is particularly important since Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices who voted to dismantle the constitutional right to abortion, and his mixed signals about how he’d handle the issue if re-elected only add to the uncertainty.
Harris has adopted Beyoncé’s 2016 anthem “Freedom” as the rally cry for her campaign, aligning seamlessly with her advocacy for reproductive rights. The pop star’s involvement adds a significant star factor to Harris’ appearance, which also includes a podcast recording with popular host Brené Brown during her Texas visit.
Evidence suggests that the issue of abortion rights could mobilize women to engage in the electoral process, as witnessed during the midterm elections of 2022. In the past two years, voters across seven states, including traditionally conservative ones, have either safeguarded abortion rights or successfully thwarted attempts to restrict them via statewide votes.
“Being a resident of Texas, protecting women’s health and safety feels essential,” remarked Colette Clark, a voter from Austin. She believes that backing Harris will help prevent further restrictions on abortion at a national level.
Similarly, Daniel Kardish, another Austin resident, understands the restrictions as a pivotal issue this election, even without personal connections to those affected. “I have strong feelings about a woman’s right to bodily autonomy,” he stated.
Harris indicated this week that the matter could resonate with even Republican women, emphasizing, “In many cases, our daughters may have fewer rights than their grandmothers.” She insisted that when women’s freedom to make their own choices comes to the forefront in elections, Americans tend to favor freedom, irrespective of party affiliation.
While she may not win Texas, Harris’ participation Friday intends to bring national awareness to pressing local problems. “Texas has become ground zero for the stark realities faced by women, especially those denied medical care,” said Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, a legal organization involved in numerous lawsuits against restrictive abortion laws. “The devastating impact has been profoundly evident here.”
Democrats argue that if Trump is re-elected, the erosion of rights and freedoms will persist. Republican legislators in various states have been dismissing Democratic initiatives aimed at ensuring or expanding access to birth control as well.
Harris’ visit also seeks to provide momentum for Rep. Colin Allred, a candidate challenging Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in a difficult race. Allred is expected to join Harris at the rally.
When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Democrats initially centered their campaign on the implications for access to abortion in unwanted pregnancies. However, many abortion-related procedures are also applicable in cases of miscarriage. Consequently, women across 14 states with stringent abortion prohibitions are often denied medical care until their situation becomes dire. In some instances, healthcare providers face legal repercussions for offering necessary treatment.
A July poll revealed that around 60% of Americans believe that their states should generally permit legal abortions for any reason if a woman doesn’t wish to carry a pregnancy to term.
Trump’s stance on abortion remains unclear. He has frequently changed his position and provided vague or conflicting answers to questions about reproductive rights, making it a notable vulnerability for Republicans heading into this year’s elections.
Texas exemplifies the challenges facing the post-Roe landscape, as its laws forbid doctors from conducting abortions once cardiac activity is detected, often as early as six weeks. This leads to worsening medical conditions for women who did not plan to terminate their pregnancies, as physicians are often restricted from acting until a patient’s life is in peril or to avert significant impairment to vital bodily functions.
Moreover, Texas has turned into a focal point for legal battles regarding abortion. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the state’s restrictive ban.
Reports of pregnant women being denied care in emergency rooms due to these laws have surged, as hospitals must navigate the complexities of providing standard medical attention without violating stringent abortion laws. Many Texas women have voiced complaints against healthcare facilities for not managing dangerously failing pregnancies due to the state’s regulations. Some have tragically lost reproductive organs as a consequence.
Recent Republican messaging has attempted to shift blame onto medical professionals, alleging that doctors are intentionally withholding care to make a political statement against abortion bans. Perryman dismissed this narrative, call it “gaslighting.” She emphasized, “Medical practitioners are confronted with the real threat of criminal charges, personal liability, and jeopardy to their medical licenses, putting them in an extraordinarily difficult position.”