Abortion is mobilizing voters nationwide in support of candidates who will fight for reproductive freedom, and Republicans know it. That’s why some candidates are bending over backward to scrub their websites, rebrand themselves, and conceal their anti-abortion records and agenda from voters.
But contrary to some recent headlines, they’re not changing their agenda. They are simply changing their rhetoric in the hopes voters won’t hold them accountable for their anti-abortion policies. California House candidates opposed to abortion continue to push a desperation-induced strategy: muddy the waters so voters can’t get a clear look at their real position on abortion access. But voters — the majority of whom support abortion rights — won’t be fooled.
- Strategy #1: Backtrack or avoid talking about reproductive rights.
Many Republicans running for Congressional seats have followed Trump’s lead when asked about a national abortion ban – saying it is now an issue that is left to the states. But let’s be clear – your access to reproductive health care shouldn’t depend on your zip code or ability to travel. And we’ve seen just how dangerous it can be when vital health care access is left up to the states -let’s not forget Amber Thurman.
We’ve also seen many candidates attempt to escape their anti-abortion records and rewrite history by obfuscating and confusing voters. For example, Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45) has bizarrely tried to claim that she supports reproductive rights — despite a Congressional voting record that clearly says otherwise. In fact, she co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act that would ban all abortions and put IVF at risk (HR 1011, 2021), as well as voted against access to birth control (HR 8373, 2022).
- Strategy #2: Gaslight us into thinking they don’t actually support a national abortion ban when they do.
At this point, most of these candidates are just desperate and will say anything to make sure they get reelected. They are trying to fool voters, as if their voting records don’t speak for themselves —- like the fact that many of them have voted to restrict access to medication abortion which would have impacts nationally on access, including in California. Or that they say they won’t support a national abortion ban (which we don’t believe for the record) but instead support a “minimum national standard” which is, of course, an abortion ban.
One candidate has said it though — GOP House incumbent John Duarte has tried to paint himself as reasonable because he supports “common-sense restrictions” nationally on abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy (LA Times, 10/13/22) (hint: that is a national abortion ban) and broke his promise to voters to protect abortion access by voting to criminalize doctors who perform abortions (HR 26, 2023). And Rep. Ken Calvert voted for fervently anti-abortion legislation (HR 4368, 2023) that would prevent women from receiving mifepristone through the mail or at pharmacies, even in California, which is a play right out of Project 2025.
- Strategy #3: Hide behind the protections California has put in place to avoid talking about the issue and act as if bans couldn’t happen here.
Candidates have tried to avoid talking about their position or the issue broadly by saying abortion is protected here in CA so what they think doesn’t matter. Oh, but it does. If Congress passes a national abortion ban – and don’t think for a second we believe any of them wouldn’t vote for it – it would absolutely impact California. That whole, federal law superseding state law thing…
CA-47 candidate Scott Baugh, who has made it clear he opposes abortion in any form, opposed Proposition 1 in 2022, and as an Assemblymember repeatedly voted to restrict access to reproductive health care and punish doctors, is happy to use Prop 1 as a defense as to why his views don’t dictate how he would act in office.
And just this week, Congressman Mike Garcia put out an official statement claiming he would not support any national abortion ban, partially because of California’s law, despite the fact he already co-sponsored legislation that would ban all abortions, even in the instances of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk (HR 1011, 2021).
Anti-abortion rights candidates’ evasive strategies and tactics will surely continue up to Election Day, but one thing remains true: They are on the wrong side of voters on an issue that consistently ranks as one of the most important this cycle. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Votes PAC is committed to ensuring their position costs them this election, as we elect pro-reproductive rights champions up and down the ballot.
Learn more at WeDecideCA.com and see digital ads running here.
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| Paid for by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California VOTES PAC (www.wedecideca.com) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. |
