As Democrats celebrated their wins in the 2020 elections, they were quick to credit their success to their rejection of anti-abortion rights actions taken by Republican lawmakers. Put simply, Democrats argued that their stance on abortion rights helped them capture many seats in Congress as well as the Presidency. However, the extent to which abortion rights played a role in the outcome of the election has been widely debated, with some GOP politicians downplaying the candidates’ stances.
It is true that abortion rights played an important role in this year’s election. Exit polls showed that abortion rights was a key voting issue for a majority of voters, with over half voting primarily based on the candidates’ stance on abortion rights. Additionally, several prominent abortion rights issues, such as the Hyde Amendment, Planned Parenthood funding, and parental consent bill, also influenced voter decision.
But did abortion rights actually tip the scales in the Democrats’ favor? Not necessarily. Democrats have traditionally been the champions of abortion rights. This isn’t a new development; this is a firm stand they’ve held for decades. So it’s difficult to pinpoint whether abortion rights itself, or the Democrats’ long-standing commitment to the issue, was the deciding factor in the election.
Another factor to consider is the larger cultural shift that has taken place over the past few years. It’s become increasingly socially acceptable to discuss abortion rights, and it’s also more openly accepted. This could have had an influence on the election’s outcome, as voters may have felt more comfortable taking a stand on the issue.
To be certain, abortion rights had an influence on this year’s election, and it is likely that the Democrats’ stance on abortion rights was a net positive for them. But it would be wrong to overlook the other factors at play, and it’s possible that the influence of abortion rights could have been overstated.
Ultimately, this year’s election showed us that abortion rights is a hugely important issue to many voters. That is something that both sides will have to take into account in the future. And whether or not abortion rights was truly the deciding factor in this election, it is clear that candidates should pay attention to the issue if they want to be taken seriously by voters.