For Immediate Release
December 10, 2024
Contact: Kelly Rimar kelly@freeandjust.us
NEW DATA: Nearly 60% of Battleground Voters Oppose Abortion Restrictions, Including Trump Supporters
Success of Trump and Republicans in Congress should not be mistaken as support for further restrictions on abortion
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, new data from Navigator Research is shedding light on the role abortion played in the 2024 presidential election and in key Senate races across the country. The research, conducted among voters across the presidential battleground states, confirms that abortion is broadly popular with Americans, and makes clear that banning abortion, or using existing laws to further restrict abortion access nationwide are deeply unpopular positions – even among Trump voters.
According to the new research, nearly 60% of voters across the battleground support legal abortion including nearly 40% of those who voted for Trump and the Republican Senate candidate. These findings send a clear message to Trump and Republican lawmakers: Americans, including those responsible for their victories, will not tolerate further attacks on abortion access and reproductive freedom.
“This data confirms that abortion access and reproductive freedom are popular issues and supported by the majority of Americans,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just. “Now more than ever, it’s critical that abortion storytellers share how abortion bans harm women and families across the country. We have to tell the truth about how attacks targeting everything from access to medication abortion to IVF treatment hurt families and upend lives. That is why Free & Just is committed to amplifying stories that counter misinformation and spotlight the real consequences of attacks on access to abortion and reproductive health care.”
The new research also reinforces the power of storytellers, whose courage in sharing their own experiences with abortion and reproductive health care helped educate and motivate voters in their communities. According to the new data, 52% of voters who supported state-level ballot initiatives to protect, restore, and expand abortion access said their decision to vote for these measures was impacted by women they know.
Storytelling is a powerful tool to help people across the country understand how attacks on abortion and access to reproductive care unravel lives, and put people in impossible, sometimes life-threatening situations. With new, increasingly vicious attacks on reproductive freedom on the horizon, it is more important than ever that we amplify the stories of people and communities affected by these attacks.
Patients, providers, and abortion rights advocates who spent the year working with Free & Just to share their stories and stand up to attacks on reproductive freedom released statements in response to the new research findings.
“Sharing my story was difficult at first, and it can be painful to relive the loss of my son Connor,” said Gracie Ladd, an oncology nurse from Nashotah, Wisconsin who was forced to travel out of state for abortion care after receiving a devastating fetal diagnosis at 20-weeks pregnant. “Still, I knew it was important to talk about what I went through and to spotlight the sweeping and devastating impacts of attacks on abortion. Every time I share my story, I am honoring Connor and helping people think differently about abortion. I know that there is a lot of work ahead, but I believe in the power of storytelling and I will continue to help others understand how dangerous attacks on reproductive freedom are.”
Gracie shared her abortion story publicly for the first time as part of Free & Just’s Ride to Decide Bus Tour for reproductive freedom over the summer. In September, Gracie testified about her experience traveling out-of-state for abortion care before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
“I have found my home in the abortion care community, and I am incredibly proud to work with so many brave patients, providers, and advocates,” said Suki O, an ultrasound technician in the Atlanta area, who has spoken publicly about her work to help patients navigate Georgia’s 6-week abortion ban. “I am heartbroken, but I know that this community will continue to support each other and work together to show just how dangerous attacks on access to abortion are.”
Suki joined Gracie Ladd at the September hearing before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, where she mourned the deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, who lost their lives as a result of Georgia’s harsh abortion ban.
“I’ve spent the last month grieving and doing my best to prepare for what’s to come as anti-abortion extremists look for new ways to attack abortion access and reproductive freedom,” said Emma Burns from Flagstaff, Arizona who navigated a provider shortage, mandatory waiting periods, and other barriers when she needed abortion care as a college student. “At the same time, I know that sharing my abortion story has helped people in my community understand the harms of these attacks, and I am hopeful that we can continue to educate and engage people who don’t see themselves in this issue.”
In October, Burns graciously lent her story to Free & Just for the development of the “Road After Roe,” an Oregon Trail-inspired experience that challenges users to navigate the real-life, and often dangerous barriers to abortion and reproductive care.
If you are interested in speaking with the pollsters who led this research, patients and advocates who shared their experiences throughout this election cycle, or experts about what’s at stake for abortion access and reproductive freedom in 2025, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us.
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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our futures.