Biden Gains Endorsements from 3 Abortion Rights Groups as Democrats Focus on the Issue in 2024

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President Joe Biden is relying on reproductive rights as a key issue to mobilize voters in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. In support of this effort, Biden has secured endorsements from three prominent organizations and will host a rally to commemorate the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that overturned federal abortion protections.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Emily’s List have endorsed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. These groups are endorsing the Biden-Harris re-election campaign early on to emphasize the significance of this issue for Democrats in the upcoming election year, as stated by the leaders of the organizations in an interview with The Big Big News.

Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, praised President Biden and Vice President Harris for their partnership in defending against the relentless attacks on reproductive rights. McGill Johnson highlighted the clear contrast between the administration’s efforts to protect patients and providers during the healthcare crisis and the opposition’s push for a national ban on abortion.

Biden and Democrats have already witnessed the influence of this issue, as the majority of Americans support legalized abortion nationwide. In the 2022 midterm elections, despite initial skepticism from political pundits, abortion emerged as a top concern for voters who consistently rejected attempts to restrict abortion rights at the state level.

Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden’s campaign manager, expressed pride in earning the support of these organizations. She emphasized the detrimental impact of the extreme agenda associated with MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republicans on women’s health, making the re-election of President Biden and Vice President Harris even more crucial.

Biden has made a commitment to safeguard reproductive healthcare, including enshrining abortion rights in federal law. He is expected to convey this message during a rally on Friday, joined by First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

While it was expected that leading voices advocating for abortion rights would endorse the Democratic president for re-election, the heads of these organizations believe that early and vocal support for Biden and Harris is vital on an issue that continues to resonate with voters, despite suggestions that it has diminished in importance.

Mimi Timmaraju, the head of NARAL Pro-Choice America, emphasized the lasting impact of abortion bans, highlighting how they affect personal decisions, such as college choices and career paths in medicine. She stressed that these bans have seeped into everyday life, resulting in unintended consequences.

The consequences of limiting abortion access extend beyond ending unwanted pregnancies and also impact miscarriage care and general pregnancy-related healthcare. In states with stringent abortion restrictions, women increasingly struggle to access care for pregnancy-related complications, and doctors face the fear of criminal charges for providing abortions. This situation creates a chilling effect on healthcare providers’ willingness to treat patients whose conditions have not yet reached the threshold for intervention.

Since the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion in 1973, 22 states have implemented bans or highly restrictive policies on abortion. Conversely, some states have expanded access to abortion care. The Biden administration has convened state leaders from all 50 states to discuss strategies for expanding access and collaborating to assist individuals in more restrictive states.

Neera Tanden, Biden’s top domestic policy aide, emphasized the significant pushback against rights restrictions, even in conservative states, driven by independent women, voters, and those who are less politically engaged. She highlighted instances where anti-choice forces faced unexpected challenges, including resistance from Republican women legislators.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, believes that the Supreme Court ruling can mobilize organizations advocating against abortion rights, as they learned from their poor showing in the midterms due to a lack of proactive engagement.

Most states with severe abortion restrictions also have high rates of maternal mortality, stillbirth, and miscarriage. Black women are disproportionately affected, with a mortality rate from pregnancy-related causes more than three times higher than that of white women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vice President Harris has argued that the link between maternal healthcare and abortion care is not coincidental. The same medical procedures used for abortion are also employed in treating miscarriages.

Laphonza Butler, president of Emily’s List, a Democratic female candidate advocacy group, views Harris as a powerful symbol, given that she shattered barriers by becoming the highest-ranking woman in the White House. Butler sees the current administration leveraging every available platform to advance reproductive health and freedom nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about abortion rights

More about abortion rights

• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• NARAL Pro-Choice America
• Emily’s List
• Supreme Court decision on abortion protections
• Biden administration’s stance on reproductive health care
• CDC – Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System