Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the ruling that protected abortion rights for almost 50 years. But the issue is front and center in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, less than a year after voters passed constitutional protection for reproductive rights.
On the anniversary of the contentious ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, proponents of abortion rights spoke to reporters about the continued importance of the issue in a call organized by Ohio Democrats. They included author and women's rights activist Gloria Steinem, who said it's up to women to vote for people who will protect abortion rights.
"We are responsible for and subject to the fundamental right to decide our own bodily integrity. It is, it is up to us. It is as basic, at least as basic, as freedom of speech or freedom of assembly," Steinem said.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) was on the call too. He said there is a big difference between him and his Republican opponent Bernie Moreno when it comes to reproductive rights.
Brown said he thinks most Ohioans want reproductive rights. And to prove it, he pointed to last November’s vote on Issue 1, a constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion, birth control, IVF, and other reproductive rights. Brown noted Ohio voters passed it by 57%.
“Conservative counties, liberal counties, rural counties, metro counties voted pretty overwhelmingly. Delaware County, historically a Republican county, passed it by almost 20%," Brown said.
Democrats are hoping to parlay the momentum from two key ballot issues last year into wins for candidates this year. In addition to winning Issue 1 last November, in August Democrats had shot down an earlier Issue 1. That was a Republican-backed amendment to make it harder to pass citizen-led constitutional amendments in the future.
The Ohio Democratic Party took notice of those wins. It's placing ads on social media on the issue, in hopes that voters will elect abortion rights candidates.
The last time abortion played a role in a statewide race was two years ago, in the governor’s race. Democrats attempted to make reproductive rights a central campaign issue for former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley's campaign. Whaley lost to current Republican Gov. Mike DeWine 63%-37%.
Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said he thinks most voters are going to side with Moreno and other Republicans on the abortion issue, because he said GOP candidates are focusing on alternatives to make lives better for moms and babies.
"At the end of the day, it's going to be the pro-life candidates talking about common-sense approaches to helping women - diapers, car seats, cribs, formula, health care, housing. The Democrats - the pro-choice Democrats - all they offer is abortion on demand," Gonidakis said.
DeWine recently signed a bipartisan bill that aims to lower the state's higher-than-average infant mortality rate. Supermajority Republicans have also passed legislation for pregnancy resource centers, which counsel against abortion and offer diapers, cribs, and other supplies. Those bills have not garnered Democratic support because those facilities are aligned with organizations or churches that oppose abortion.
Moreno opposed Issue 1 last fall. He hasn't been talking much about abortion lately though he has been supportive of anti-abortion causes in the past.
In a written statement, Moreno's spokesperson Reagan McCarthy said voters are more concerned about illegal immigrants, inflation, and the economy. McCarthy said Moreno wants abortion decided at the state level and supports exceptions for it in the case of rape, incest, and life of the mother.
"While Democrats and Sherrod Brown attempt to make this election about abortion, Bernie knows and polls confirm that voters are more concerned with the record number of illegal immigrants and a stagnant economy that includes record-high inflation. Bernie has always said abortion should be primarily decided at the state level and supports exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother," McCarthy said in the statement.
It's not just the U.S. Senate race where abortion is expected to be a key issue this fall in Ohio.
Three Ohio Supreme Court seats are up for grabs. Two incumbents will be on the ballot as well as candidates vying for the open seat that was vacated last year when Justice Sharon Kennedy was elected chief justice. The court is in Republican control now 4-3, but if Democrats win those three seats up this fall, the power would shift.
