By AMANDA SEITZ (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 25% of Black female voters see abortion as their top issue in this year’s presidential election, according to a report from health policy research firm KFF. abortion This marks a change from previous elections, where white, conservative evangelicals were more likely to prioritize abortion when voting. a poll The findings indicate a significant shift from previous election years, when white, conservative evangelicals were more likely to peg abortion as their biggest priority when voting. Those voters were highly motivated in recent presidential elections to cast ballots for
Donald Trump , who promised to appoint U.S. Supreme Court judges who would take away the constitutional right to an abortion.However, just months before the first presidential election since the court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, KFF’s poll suggests that this voting dynamic is drastically changing.
Ashley Kirzinger, a KFF pollster, stated, “It’s a complete shift. Abortion voters are young, Black women — and not white evangelicals.” According to KFF’s survey, 12% of voters consider abortion the most important issue in this year’s election. Yet, certain female voters were more likely to prioritize the issue, with 28% of Black women, 19% of women living in states where abortion is banned, and 17% of women under age 50 highlighting it as top of mind.
Of voters who regard abortion as their top issue, two-thirds believe it should be legal in all or most cases.
Historically, white evangelicals seeking to ban abortion have consistently voted on this issue, according to Kirzinger. Trump, a Republican, has spent nearly a decade appealing to these voters with promises to support conservative judges and religious surrogates who warned evangelicals that his Democratic rivals would significantly expand abortion access in the U.S. Trump received overwhelming support from white evangelicals in previous presidential elections.
However, as states tighten abortion access and Trump prepares for a rematch against Democrat Joe Biden, the demographics of the abortion voter have shifted, Kirzinger noted. Biden has pledged to protect abortion access since the court overturned the right.
Kirzinger emphasized, “Abortion — it’s clearly resonating with this group. When we think about abortion access and who is disadvantaged, it’s Black women.”
Women — and Black women in particular — played a crucial role in Biden’s victory over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Last week, Biden’s campaign announced that first lady Jill Biden would lead a nationwide effort to mobilize that voting bloc again. More than half of Black Americans reside in Southern states, most of which swiftly introduced strict abortion laws after the Supreme Court’s ruling was announced. An Associated Press analysis from last year found that approximately 25 million women were residing in states that had implemented new restrictions following the court’s decision.
Almost two-thirds of voters surveyed by KFF oppose a national abortion ban starting at 16 weeks of pregnancy. Trump has not publicly endorsed such a ban, although there have been reports that he privately supports one. Check out the AP’s reporting on abortion at https://apnews.com/hub/abortion
Over 25% of Black female voters consider abortion as their main concern in this year’s presidential election.
Women — and Black women, in particular — were crucial to Biden’s win over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Last week, Biden’s campaign announced that first lady Jill Biden would lead a nationwide effort to mobilize that voting bloc again.
More than half of Black Americans live in Southern states, most of which swiftly introduced strict abortion laws once the Supreme Court’s ruling was announced. As of last year, roughly 25 million women were living in states that had enacted new restrictions following the court’s decision, an Associated Press analysis found.
Nearly two-thirds of voters polled by KFF oppose a national abortion ban beginning at 16 weeks of pregnancy. Trump has not publicly backed such a ban, but reports have circulated that he privately has told people he supports one.
Follow the AP’s coverage of abortion at https://apnews.com/hub/abortion.
