House GOP Members Shift Approach on Abortion in 2022 to Prevent Electoral Setback: "We Embrace Being 'Pro-Choice'"
In areas surrounding cities like Tucson, Des Moines, and Syracuse, Republican candidates are openly declaring their commitment to not criminalize abortion or endorse a nationwide ban. Some candidates have gone even further, identifying as "pro-choice." Representative John Duarte from California's Central Valley, Representative Tom Kean Jr. in northern New Jersey, and GOP candidate Matt Gunderson in the San Diego area are among these individuals. Gunderson, in his inaugural TV ad, even echoed Bill Clinton's phrase, advocating for abortion to be "safe, legal, and rare."
In this hotly contested race for the House in the fall, Republican candidates in contested districts are meticulously revamping their perception on abortion after largely disregarding intense Democratic criticisms in the previous cycle, which significantly contributed to the GOP's losses. Their goal is to steer voters' attention towards pressing issues such as the US-Mexico border and other contentious topics.
Gunderson, discussing his stance with CNN, noted, "Since we're both pro-choice, we can shift the focus to more significant concerns, such as the border, inflation, the economy, jobs, crime, education."
However, executing this strategy might prove challenging.
Amidst the endeavor to portray a more nuanced perspective on the GOP's stance on abortion, the party's national messaging has often been unclear. Recently, former first lady Melania Trump voiced her support for the right to an abortion "free from any intervention," while Donald Trump's vice-presidential nominee, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, vowed to deplete funds for Planned Parenthood, upholding a staunchly conservative position.
This predicament highlights a significant shortcoming for the GOP approaching the election. The GOP has struggled to address an issue that forms the basis for nearly all of the Democrats' attacks this election cycle: 80% of the House Democrats' main groups' TV ad spending has centered around abortion. These attacks have proved particularly effective, especially against incumbents with documented comments on abortion, such as Representative Zach Nunn of Iowa, whose controversial remarks have been transformed into attack ads by the Democrats.
"You can't escape it," reflected Representative Kelly Armstrong from North Dakota, acknowledging the lessons the GOP learned from the 2022 midterms. "We didn't really have a plan for what had occurred."
Democrats doubt the effectiveness of their opponents' attempts to convey a softer stance on abortion.
"He'll probably say whatever is necessary to win and see what sticks," challenged Levin, a three-term Democrat who published a response ad against Gunderson.
"If Mike Johnson gains power, there are numerous individuals in this area who would advocate for a national abortion ban," Levin cautioned, while his opponent pledged to oppose both a national ban and a bill to codify Roe, emphasizing that the matter should remain under state jurisdiction.
In private meetings, Republican leaders have been working closely with candidates in critical districts, such as New York and California, to sell a more moderate stance on the issue. The House GOP campaign chief, Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina, has urged fellow Republicans to articulate their views clearly or face substantial Democratic spending aimed at misrepresenting their position.
Republicans have become more assertive in denouncing some misleading Democratic ads, which have accused Republican candidates of endorsing strict abortion bans or opposing exemptions for abortion, even when those candidates have presented a more moderate stance on record. In influential seats in North Carolina and Virginia, fact-checkers have concurred with this assessment.
Hudson accused Democrats of "manufacturing a false and distorted impression" of the GOP's abortion stance in the 2022 midterms and attacked Democrats for their "extreme" views on the subject.
"To combat this, we have encouraged our candidates to be open, direct, and empathetic about their position – and nonpartisan fact-checkers have stepped in, dismantling a litany of Democratic attack ads based on lies," Hudson shared with CNN.
Sarah Chamberlain, who heads the centrist-leaning Republican Mainstreet Partnership, asserted that she warned a prominent GOP pollster during the Dobbs Supreme Court ruling that it would significantly impact women voters. Initially, he dismissed her claims, but later contacted her to admit his error. Since then, Chamberlain has employed her polling data to persuade critical swing-seat House Republicans to revise their tactics.
"Don't use the 'A word.' Talk about it as women's health care," Chamberlain suggested. "There are numerous issues we can win on and should win on, such as the economy, immigration — but this issue is still quite influential."
Democrats point out inconsistencies
In some instances, Republicans are attempting to distance themselves – or even abandon entirely – their earlier anti-abortion rights positions.
When he first ran for Congress in 2022 for a seat in Washington state, GOP candidate Joe Kent stated: "I would advocate for a national ban on abortion."
This time around, Kent filmed an ad stating: "I oppose any new federal legislation on the issue."
Kent's opponent – Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez – condemned his shifting stance during a recent candidate debate, accusing him of playing "both sides of this card" and adhering to "whatever pollsters instruct him to say."
And, he's not alone in this regard. Nunn, the politically vulnerable Republican in Iowa, is fighting tooth and nail for his political survival as Democrats devote a large portion of their TV ads to this suburban battleground, focusing on abortion.
Nunn's Democratic rival in elections, Lanon Baccam, has criticized the GOP incumbent through a clip from the 2022 Republican primary debate, where Nunn declared support for banning all abortions nationwide. Nunn has yet to publicly address the abortion issue during broadcasts.
In the vital California election to preserve Levin's seat, the primary Democratic super PAC, House Majority PAC, has reserved $1.5 million starting from next week to target Gunderson. Abortion-related criticisms are expected to be part of the strategy.
Levin has capitalized on Gunderson's opposition to the 2022 California abortion rights referendum, which the Republican previously described as "disgusting" in a meeting with voters.
"What I did mention was that late-term abortions are repulsive," Gunderson clarified his earlier remarks to CNN, explaining that the referendum facilitated access to late-term abortions.
Democratic leaders accuse Republicans of trying to confuse the public.
"This is a last-ditch attempt by Republicans," asserted Rep. Suzan DelBene, the House Democrats' campaign leader from Washington. "People know their own stances."
Pro-woman rhetoric though vague on specifics
In 2022, Democrats invested half a billion dollars in abortion-related criticisms in crucial races and thwarted the GOP wave. This time around, Republicans, like freshman Rep. Marc Molinaro, who is protecting a challenging upstate New York seat, are attempting to make abortion a non-issue for Democrats.
Molinaro was among the initial Republicans to produce a TV ad focusing solely on his stance on abortion.
"I support every woman and the choices they make," Molinaro states emphatically into the camera in the ad.
However, he has not provided a clear explanation of his specific positions despite attempting to counter Democratic attacks. While the New York Republican advocated for "unlimited access" to birth control and opposed efforts to ban mifepristone in an interview, he was vague when asked if he supports reinstating Roe or if he identifies as "pro-choice."
"I describe it as someone who believes the decision and choice on reproductive health should be left between the individual and their physician," Molinaro explained to CNN. Regarding his decision to discuss abortion, Molinaro added, "I think it's crucial that people understand that I respect the choice they make and that I offer my support."
He's not the only Republican attempting to distance themselves from the Dobbs decision.
Duarte, the California Republican at risk, refused to express support for the 2022 decision overturning Roe.
"It doesn't matter. It's history. It's in the past," Duarte told CNN. "And the truth is that abortion is back in the jurisdiction of individual states where it belongs."
The congressman argued that his stance - and Trump's - that the matter should be determined by individual states is effectively pro-abortion rights.
"I am pro-choice," Duarte affirmed, contending that Trump is also "practically pro-choice," despite his frequent boasts of appointing three Supreme Court justices who invalidated Roe and his commitment to voting against a Florida abortion rights referendum this fall.
Another contentious Republican, Rep. Juan Ciscomani of southern Arizona, aired his own TV ad this fall declaring opposition to a federal abortion ban and support for abortions under specified circumstances, such as protecting the mother's life.
In a debate this week, Ciscomani further stated that he also opposed his state's Civil War-era abortion ban, which was recently repealed. However, he remained silent on how he would vote this November on his state's ballot initiative to enshrine the right to an abortion up to the stage of viability, only expressing that it was a state issue.
When asked about his marketing approach to voters with his ad, Ciscomani simply replied, "My stance."
In response to the challenging political landscape surrounding abortion, Republican candidates are carefully revising their positions to steer focus towards other pressing issues. For instance, GOP candidate Matt Gunderson in San Diego has shifted his rhetoric, advocating for abortion to be "safe, legal, and rare."
However, maintaining this nuanced stance on abortion proves challenging for the GOP, as the party's national messaging remains unclear. This ambiguity is evident in the contrasting views held by figures like former first lady Melania Trump and Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, who supports defunding Planned Parenthood.
