In St. Charles, Missouri, Democrat Lucas Kunce is attempting to use reproductive care restrictions as a means to unseat Republican Senator Josh Hawley in the upcoming November election. Kunce’s recent ad campaign accuses Hawley of jeopardizing reproductive care, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), despite IVF being legal in Missouri. Democrats across the country are labeling their Republican opponents as threats to women’s health following the erosion of reproductive rights post the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade. While Hawley has expressed support for limited access to abortion, Kunce is hoping to capitalize on the issue in hopes of securing victory.
In addition to messaging campaigns, Democrats are aiming to use ballot measures in states like Missouri, Arizona, and Florida to bolster turnout and support for their candidates. The focus on reproductive rights has put the GOP on the defensive, with analysts suggesting that Republicans have not yet found an effective response to these attacks. Abortion has become a significant issue in key races, such as in Arizona where a U.S. House seat is now considered a toss-up due to the salience of the topic. Despite Kunce outraising Hawley in recent quarters, the incumbent maintains a wide lead in polls, although Kunce remains optimistic about his chances of winning.
Senator Hawley has supported a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the lives of pregnant women. However, Missouri’s state ban on abortion is near total, without exceptions for rape or incest, which has drawn criticism from Kunce and his supporters. The battle over abortion rights has become a central issue in the Missouri Senate race, with Kunce utilizing his platform as a Marine veteran and antitrust advocate to appeal to voters who value freedom and control over their own lives.
Missouri was the first state to ban abortion after the fall of Roe v. Wade, with the measure only allowing for exceptions in cases of medical emergency. Concerned citizens like Larry Bax, a Republican voter, have become single-issue voters due to the perceived wrongness of the reproductive care restrictions in the state. Supporters have gathered enough signatures to put a ballot measure on abortion rights in Missouri, with Bax and others expressing their willingness to support the Democratic nominee, likely to be Kunce, in the upcoming election. The issue has prompted some lifelong Republicans like Jim Seidel to consider voting for Democrats for the first time due to the perceived extreme positions of their party.
The Catholic Church and some conservative voters have opposed the ballot measure in Missouri, with the church discouraging its members from signing the petition. Despite these challenges, the organizers behind the ballot measure have submitted more than enough signatures for certification, further fueling the debate over reproductive rights in the state. Concerns about governmental restrictions on reproductive care, including IVF and birth control, have also fueled the debate, with voters like Bax expressing worries about the extent of these limitations. Kunce’s strategy hinges on garnering support from voters who are disillusioned with Hawley’s stance on reproductive rights, aiming to replicate the upset victory seen in the 2012 Senate race over similar abortion-related controversies.
