Ohio Women 50+ Mobilize After Moreno’s Abortion Rights Remarks

Ohio women 50+ are mobilized by abortion rights debates, influencing voter decisions amid broader election issues, following Moreno's remarks.
Bernie Moreno backed plan to raise health care costs, reward hospital executives

In Ohio, women aged 50 and older, who have experienced the fluctuating legality of abortion from the pre-Roe v. Wade era to its recent overturn, are returning to the polls. This historical context is influencing their voting decisions, though it remains one of many factors at play, according to interviews conducted by the Capital Journal.

Linda Smith, a Mansfield resident and registered Republican, stated, “I am not a single issue voter, by any means.” Despite this, abortion rights have become a significant concern for older women voters as the November general election approaches.

Controversial remarks by U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno have become a focal point in campaign ads. These comments have sparked discussions about reproductive health, especially among women who recall the risks associated with past healthcare practices and who are considering the implications for future generations.

“Women don’t make their health care choices and decisions lightly and they’re often complicated decisions,” Smith noted, adding that these are “life-altering.” Moreno’s remarks, made during a town hall in Warren County, were first reported by WCMH through a viewer-submitted video.

Moreno commented, “You know, the left has a lot of single issue voters. Sadly, by the way, there’s a lot of suburban women, a lot of suburban women that are like, ‘Listen, abortion is it. If I can’t have an abortion in this country whenever I want, I will vote for anybody else.’ OK. It’s a little crazy by the way, but — especially for women that are like past 50 — I’m thinking to myself, ‘I don’t think that’s an issue for you.’” He then joked, “Oh, thank God my wife didn’t hear that part.”

While Moreno’s campaign has remained silent on these comments to the OCJ, spokesperson Reagan McCarthy previously told The Statehouse News Bureau that Moreno was making a “tongue-in-cheek joke” about the perceived focus of women voters on abortion.

In response, a letter from women across the political spectrum criticized Moreno for mocking those over 50 and downplaying his comment as a joke. The letter emphasized a shared belief in women’s rights to autonomous health care decisions, free from external interference.

“It’s distressing to me to see that this (issue) has become a political pawn,” Smith expressed to the Capital Journal. The topic intersects with other significant issues for older Ohioans, such as inflation and Social Security.

An August survey by the AARP indicated that 16% of Ohio voters aged 50+ ranked abortion as a top issue influencing their vote, outpacing other concerns like Social Security and taxes. Additionally, 94% of these voters intend to participate in the upcoming election.

Senator Sherrod Brown currently leads Moreno 46%-42%, though among older voters, the race is tighter, with Moreno holding a slight lead according to the AARP poll.

For Seville resident Mosie Welch, reproductive rights are paramount in deciding her vote. She sees it linked to broader family and economic concerns, as well as individual rights. “Yes, this is one of the big issues driving my vote, especially at the national level, because I fear what will happen if women no longer have the right to make decisions about their own bodies as they don’t in some states today,” Welch said.

Welch, a mother and grandmother, insists on comprehensive healthcare for future generations, expressing concern about potential legal and medical challenges physicians face post-Roe.

“When that happens and a woman dies, or a woman loses their fertility, or is racking up huge medical bills, that doesn’t just affect one individual,” Welch noted. “It affects everybody, it affects the community.”

For many, including voters like Susan Polakoff Shaw, the current political climate serves as a catalyst for action. “I know a lot of women who are rage-filled, and it’s women around my age who know what it’s like, who have heard what it was like pre-Roe,” Shaw stated, emphasizing the importance of controlling one’s health and future.

Beyond reproductive rights, Smith highlighted the importance of respecting voter decisions, referencing legislative efforts and comments that challenge the reproductive rights amendment approved by a majority of voters.

“You can disagree, but when 57% of the electorate votes for that, you need to respect that,” Smith stated, maintaining optimism for Ohio’s future, driven by collective advocacy for women’s rights.

“People who rise above their differences to fight for common causes — like you are seeing now for women’s reproductive freedoms,” Smith said, “it’s that collective voice and vote that will make a difference.”

This story was originally published by the Ohio Capital Journal


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