As Trump rallies anti-abortion advocates for the upcoming midterm elections, there is no state in the United States where support for banning abortion reaches even 25 percent, according to recent analysis.
The numbers were compiled using Congressional Election Studies data by the progressive Data for Progress, a group which collaborates with social scientists and data scientists to compile public information and “bring layers of nuance and depth to polling.”
There is no state in the country where support for banning abortion reaches even 25 percent. pic.twitter.com/UxHKfBG6Rw
— Data for Progress (@DataProgress) May 28, 2018
Data for Progress’ analysis comes just days after Trump spoke at the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List’s annual “Campaign for Life Gala.”
“Every day between now and November we must work together to elect more lawmakers who share our values, cherish our heritage, and proudly stand for life,” he said. “The story is, ’18 midterms, we need Republicans.”
Earlier this month, Trump also announced a new plan to cut Planned Parenthood’s funding. The plan would ban the family planning clinic from offering abortion referrals as well as force Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers to physically separate federal funds from money for abortions. It would also lift the requirement that people with unintended pregnancies be counseled on their full range of options.
Planned Parenthood does not currently spend federal funding on abortion services, as dictated by the Hyde Amendment, and only receives funding for its other health care related services.
Data for Progress’s analysis also comes as a group of lawmakers Iowa look to overturn Roe v. Wade by way of increasingly stringent regulations. Earlier in May, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed into law the most restrictive abortion bill in the nation, banning the procedure once a “heartbeat” is detected, usually at around six weeks after conception — before many people even know they are pregnant — with exceptions for rape and incest.
The bill has been dubbed the “heartbeat” bill, but, notably, that’s a highly loaded term, as one doctor pointed out in a 2016 column for HuffPost, suggesting they be referred to as “fetal pole cardiac activity” bills instead.
Prior to its most recent piece of legislation, Iowa had banned abortions after 20 weeks. The new law has already drawn court challenges, something its supporters said was part of their goal.
Iowans can rest assured: @ACLUIowa won’t let politicians get away with trying to block access to abortion.
— ACLU (@ACLU) May 4, 2018
“It is time for the Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue of life,” said state Rep. Shannon Lundgren (R), the bill’s floor manager.
The Gov. Reynolds, who has in the past referred to abortion as “murder,” echoed that sentiment when she signed the bill into law.
“I understand and anticipate that this will likely be challenged in court, and that courts may even put a hold on the law until it reaches the Supreme Court,” Reynolds said in a statement at the time. “This is bigger than just a law. This is about life.”
But the “heartbeat” bill’s advocates aren’t actually representing the majority of people. A poll from Pew Research Center released last year backs up Data for Progress, with just 16 percent of people nationally saying they believe abortion should be illegal in all cases.
Pro-choice advocates are looking to fight back. Last week, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced its largest ever investment in the midterms with a focus on targeting key voting blocks in swing districts in 19 states.
“NARAL is focused on taking back the House with a pro-choice majority that supports our values and our futures,” the group said in a statement. “NARAL’s Pro-Choice Majority Maker program is investing heavily in turning out suburban women, one of the most important voting blocs this cycle. Candidates who have embraced and run on expanding reproductive rights have been rewarded by suburban women this year.”