Two years after the Dobbs decision overturned the federal right to an abortion, concerns are rising about the impact on pregnant women and reproductive care access in states with new abortion restrictions. A nationwide view suggests that pregnant women may be more at risk in states where abortion is mostly illegal since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Majorities across gender, age, and racial groups express concern, with Democrats more worried than Republicans, although four in 10 Republicans are also concerned about pregnant women being at risk in states with limited abortion access.
In terms of the presidential election, President Biden leads among voters who prioritize the issue of abortion, while former President Donald Trump leads among those who focus on the economy and inflation. Despite Biden’s lead on the abortion issue, Trump remains competitive overall due to his advantage among voters prioritizing economic concerns. Even Republicans who express concerns about the risks faced by pregnant women in states with limited abortion access are still largely supporting Trump over Biden.
Concerns about the impact of restrictive abortion measures are not limited to Democratic-led states, as Republican-led states have also passed some of the most stringent laws on abortion access. Majorities in these states are worried about the implications of limited abortion access, which is tied to overall views on the legality of abortion. Those who support legal abortion express more concern about the risks faced by pregnant women than those who believe abortion should be mostly illegal. Despite the Dobbs decision, most Americans still support legal abortion in all or most cases.
Abortion is not a top issue for most voters compared to concerns such as the economy, the border, and democracy. However, it remains a more important issue for Democrats, women, and younger voters. While these groups are more likely to support Biden over Trump, they are not as certain about their voting intentions as Republican and older voters who are backing Trump. The Biden campaign may need to work on conveying its message on abortion, as only about half of registered voters believe Biden will try to pass a law legalizing abortion nationwide, with similar views among those who support abortion legality.
The Biden campaign’s pledge to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land may face challenges in reaching voters, as many believe Trump will leave abortion laws to the states rather than attempt a nationwide ban on abortion. Most Republicans expect Trump to defer the matter of abortion to the states if he wins the election. The results of a CBS News/YouGov survey conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,460 U.S. adults between June 17-21, 2024, show varying views on abortion access and the potential outcomes of the presidential election in relation to the issue.
