The Democratic Party in North Carolina is placing a strong emphasis on abortion as a key issue in the upcoming 2024 election. Planned Parenthood affiliated groups in the state have announced a $10 million campaign aimed at persuading voters concerned about narrowing abortion access to participate in November’s election. This investment is said to be the largest ever made by Planned Parenthood entities in North Carolina. The focus of the campaign is to end the GOP supermajority in the General Assembly that implemented new abortion limits and to defeat Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, who supports more restrictive abortion laws.
The $10 million campaign will fund various initiatives such as digital advertising, phone-banking, mailers, and media programming on college campuses. Planned Parenthood also plans to knock on 1 million doors in the state as part of their canvassing efforts. The campaign will primarily target counties like New Hanover, Wake, Mecklenburg, and Buncombe, where Planned Parenthood has a strong presence and ongoing organizing efforts. The recent law passed by the GOP-controlled state legislature tightens the state’s ban on most abortions, further motivating Planned Parenthood’s campaign to protect abortion access in North Carolina.
Planned Parenthood organizers and Democratic leaders have criticized Robinson’s stance on abortion, labeling him as the “worst offender in attacks on abortion.” Robinson has expressed support for an abortion ban after roughly six weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions. Democrats view his position as extreme and out of step with the state’s values, leading them to focus their efforts on defeating him in the upcoming election. Along with targeting Robinson, the campaign also aims to sway 16 state legislative races to break the Republican supermajority in both chambers.
In previous elections, Planned Parenthood’s affiliates have made significant investments to influence legislative races and preserve Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s veto power. After initially falling one seat short of holding veto-proof majorities in both chambers in 2022, Republicans reached the threshold in April 2023 when a Democratic representative switched parties. This shift in power prompted changes in response to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. The Democratic Party in North Carolina is now gearing up for a fierce battle in the 2024 election, with abortion rights at the forefront of their campaign strategy.
Overall, the $10 million investment by Planned Parenthood affiliated groups in North Carolina represents a significant effort to mobilize voters and protect abortion access in the state. With a focus on defeating GOP legislators who have enacted new abortion limits and preventing more restrictive laws, Democrats are ramping up their campaign efforts to push back against what they view as attacks on women’s rights and freedoms. As the election approaches, the battle over abortion rights in North Carolina is poised to be a major issue that could shape the outcome of key races and determine the future of reproductive healthcare in the state.
