WASHINGTON — Republican senators were surprised by Tuesday’s smashing abortion rights victory in Kansas, even as they tried to downplay their electoral implications for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Senator Lindsay Graham, a Republican, admitted Wednesday that “this is definitely a wake-up call for us.”
“Kansas is a pretty red state. It’s hard to find words. Senator Thom Tillis, RN.C.
Kansas in first election test after U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade refused to fix advanced by a right that would have been forfeited abortion Protection from state constitutions – A big win for abortion rights advocates, and one that will likely set the tone for what happens nationally.
Democrats said the vote in favor of protecting abortion rights by nearly 20 percent and historic voter turnout in primary elections sent a huge message to the nation that Americans support abortion rights. They predicted that Republicans would help overthrow Law at the ballot box.
The vote is likely to make Republicans in battlegrounds nervous, especially if they are on the ballot in a similar referendum on abortion as in California. It remains unclear whether voters in the states will head to the polls in similar numbers in November.
Republicans argue that rising inflation, especially concerns over gas and food prices, combined with President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings, will dwarf the abortion issue and lead to victory in both the House and Senate.
Sen. Roy Brandt (R-Mo.) predicted Wednesday that “I think the economy will be the biggest motivator for voters this time around.”
Still, voters aren’t paying more attention than ever to abortion rights or how their elected leaders stand on the issue after the explosion in Kansas. It’s hard to argue.
Even polls from the Senate Republican Campaign Division suggest that the party’s position on abortion rights is politically less than ideal. How should candidates discuss abortion issues?
In it, they asked voters to choose between two candidates. The first Republican supports “a ban on abortion after 15 weeks of age, except for maternal life and physical health, or severe fatal abnormalities in babies.” The second Democrat “supports unlimited abortions until the moment of birth.”
Polls show that 53% of voters choose Republicans, while only 28% choose Democrats.
A clear flaw in the investigation? Not a single member of the Republican caucus appears to hold the position outlined. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Markowski of Alaska both supported abortion rights and opposed overturning Roe v. Wade, which protected abortions after Week 15. Her 48 other Republican lawmakers support a ban well before 15 weeks of pregnancy, if not an outright ban.
The presentation instructed Republicans to be “compassionate consensus builders” on abortion.
“I think it’s best to stay in touch with voters about what they stand for. Kansas has a 22-week ban.” [on abortion]I think it’s a policy that a good number of Republicans seem to think is OK,” Tillis said Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on huff post and updated.