Abortion Debate Intensifies in NC Amid Upcoming Presidential Election

Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, tensions over abortion in North Carolina have escalated, framing the presidential election as a crucial moment for women’s rights.

The TikTok videos haunt Christy Kishbaugh, 26. One video shows a young mom rejected by several Idaho emergency rooms due to the state’s abortion ban, leaving her to bleed after a miscarriage.

Kishbaugh shares such videos with friends, exclaiming disbelief. In near whispers at a popular park, she expresses concern over her future under a patchwork of state laws restricting abortions nationwide.

“If anything were to go wrong,” Kishbaugh murmurs, iced coffee in hand. “The idea that my friends, family, or I could die or lose a child due to lack of health care access really weighs on me.”

Two years since the court’s decision, abortion tensions remain high, positioning the presidential race as pivotal for women’s rights.

Republicans gain support from white women in states like Georgia, Florida, and Texas, according to AP VoteCast. However, in North Carolina, Donald Trump’s stronghold may be threatened by the new 12-week abortion ban.

If Trump’s support among North Carolina’s white women dips towards the national average of 52%, he could lose the state’s 16 electoral votes. Kamala Harris could win with support from a fraction of white women who previously backed Trump in 2020 by just 1.3 points, his narrowest victory margin.

Abortion was a top issue for only 3% of North Carolina voters in 2020, mostly Trump supporters who wanted Roe v. Wade overturned. Now, with abortion rights left to states, the issue remains unresolved as legislatures enact various restrictions. Harris prioritizes laws’ impacts in her campaign, with 10% of North Carolina voters in 2022 naming abortion their top concern. Nearly 80% of those voters supported Democratic candidates, according to AP VoteCast data.

Did Republicans set off a hand grenade on abortion?

Appealing to women under 35, North Carolina Democrats claim Republicans are extreme on abortion, seeking control over women, says Morgan Jackson, Josh Stein’s campaign adviser. “Republicans have set off their hand grenade in their own hands,” Jackson stated. “They thought you were with them all the way. It’s more complex than that.”

Nationally, 4 in 10 women under 30 label abortion their primary issue, per an Oct. 11 KFF poll. North Carolina, avoiding strict bans seen elsewhere, takes a moderate approach, making it a lesser issue for voters, says Republican state senator Vickie Sawyer. Sawyer, listening to her daughters, finds abortion mentioned less than housing costs or daily expenses.

North Carolina’s 12-week abortion ban includes second-trimester exceptions, ensuring some rights remain, Sawyer notes. But Democrats warn of larger threats under a Republican governor like Mark Robinson, who vowed to outlaw abortion. NFL commercials show a Texas woman nearly bleeding out post-birth, illustrating medical fear of abortion-related procedures.

Enthusiasm is high among Black women as the Harris campaign targets suburban white and Latino women. No Democrat has won North Carolina since Barack Obama in 2008. The final campaign weeks feature candidate visits. Trump surveyed storm damage, while Harris visited a Black church and addressed 7,000 at Eastern Carolina University.

Last Thursday, as a record 353,166 votes were cast early, Tim Walz urged a Winston-Salem crowd to consider abortion access risks under another Trump term. He cautioned against believing Trump’s claim of not signing a national ban.

“Our wives, daughters, mothers, friends, neighbors – their lives depend on our vote,” Walz asserted.

Harris’ campaign, with 29 field offices and over 340 staff in North Carolina, prioritizes Black and young voter outreach. Trump’s campaign referred inquiries to Sawyer, representing a conservative Charlotte suburb.

Harris seeks votes in Forsyth County, home to women, students, and professionals. Winston-Salem, revitalized with trendy lofts and cafes, shifted Democratic after years of Republican control, fueled by colleges like Wake Forest University.

On campus, Jenny Gonzalez, 21, cites abortion as her voting motivation, supporting Harris. “It’s access for all women. Everyone has different reasons,” says Gonzalez, a Forsyth Tech pharmacy student.

In Fayetteville, Christine Ducheneaux, 48, prioritizes abortion for “body autonomy.” “Older white men dictating my family’s decisions is crazy,” she declares, supporting Harris.

For Liz “Gruesome” Haycraft, 44, abortion restrictions cause concern. Once opposing abortion, the tattoo artist now supports Harris, fearing women’s medical challenges. “Women shouldn’t sacrifice themselves,” Haycraft insists.

Meanwhile, Laura Browne, armed with snacks and anti-abortion pamphlets, feels Democrats use abortion scare tactics. “They’re told there’s one option, and they’re too young for kids,” says Browne, who counsels pregnant women at a nearby center.

It’s still all about the economy, Republicans say

Republicans downplay abortion, focusing on ads targeting Harris’ support for transgender surgery. Locally, the GOP critiques the Biden administration’s hurricane response.

While abortion resonates with younger women, they’re unreliable voters, says Linda Petrou, Forsyth County Republican. “Younger women may vote for Harris, but few young people vote,” Petrou observes.

Older women see abortion as secondary compared to their younger peers. Donna Klein, 80, prioritizes the environment over women’s rights, especially post-hurricane.

“We must address environmental issues,” Klein urges, concerned for her grandkids’ future.

Republicans bet on economic dissatisfaction to anchor Trump’s supporters. Inflation impacts 20-year-old Leyla Herrera, a Wake Forest student considering Trump. “Prices were better under Trump,” she recalls. Yet, Herrera struggles with abortion laws affecting rape victims, reflecting on her mom, born pre-Roe v. Wade. “It weighs on me,” she confesses.

Republican women face similar dilemmas. Robin Spadt, a Canadian immigrant with immigration concerns, remains undecided. Critical of Trump’s rhetoric, she’s conflicted over her granddaughters’ autonomy. “I oppose government control over their bodies,” Spadt states.