After the GOP largely ignored the issue of abortion rights during the 2022 midterms, Republicans in tough races are running ads attempting to distance themselves from national abortion bans and anti-IVF measures.
Reproductive rights is widely seen as the GOP’s biggest vulnerability in November and is credited with the party’s massive underperformance last cycle. As a result, NRCC Chair Richard Hudson urged his candidates this cycle to push back, admitting in January that “the voters think the Republican position is like, ‘We’ll throw you in jail if you get an abortion.’”
So far, a growing number of GOP candidates are following that advice. We’ve seen a recent string of direct-to-camera ads where Republicans pledge to reject their own party’s “extremes” on abortion rights.
Some stand-out examples include Republican Matt Gunderson, who’s challenging Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), introducing himself in an ad as “pro-choice.”
At-risk Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) said in an ad that he believes “health decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor — not Washington.”
This rhetoric is indistinguishable from what you would hear from Democrats on the trail.
“I’m against a federal ban and for a common sense approach,” Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) said in an ad. “I support exceptions including for rape, incest and, of course, protecting the life of the mother.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), another incumbent in a Democratic-leaning seat, told us he’s proud of his record “pushing back against the attempts to ban mifepristone” and opposing national abortion bans.
“In my district, when I make clear my position [on abortion], people appreciate that,” Lawler said. “Democrats’ whole campaign strategy is to just lie about my record.”
This is a different route than what we heard from our on-the-ground reporting in California swing seats when GOP members told us the election wouldn’t be decided on abortion rights.
Senate GOP candidates are also joining in. Most notably, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has pledged support for codifying Roe v. Wade in his race in the deep-blue state. Recent spots from Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dave McCormick and Nevada Senate candidate Sam Brown insist they support abortion in cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother.
Democrats aren’t buying it: In some cases, Republicans releasing ads supporting IVF have previously backed legislation that would endanger the practice. Democrats argue that the GOP messaging push is just that: Lip service to the support of reproductive freedom.
“It’s laughable,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told us about the GOP ads.
“Republicans are on the run because they know they have gone too far. But they are lying to the American people when it comes to reproductive freedom, and the American people understand it.”
The DCCC is even running ads pushing back on the GOP strategy, like in this one rebutting Molinaro’s spot.
By the numbers: Despite the trend of more Republicans engaging on abortion, Democrats are far and away outspending the GOP on reproductive rights ads on the airwaves.
Per AdImpact, Democratic House candidates have spent $55.4 million on abortion ads this cycle, compared to just under $4 million from Republicans.
In Senate races, Democratic candidates have poured $45.6 million into abortion ads, while Republican candidates have spent only $3.7 million.
— Max Cohen
