With voting already underway in Arizona, Democrats this weekend are making a major push to highlight the issue of reproductive rights.
Abortion is the number one issue on the minds of Arizona Democratic voters, according to an August poll from Noble Predictive Insights. Democrats are hopeful the issue will drive voters to the polls in the crucial battleground state.
More than a half-dozen events planned across Arizona over the next five days will feature prominent Democrats such as first lady Jill Biden and Gov. Katie Hobbs, alongside Hollywood actors and reproductive rights activists. Speakers will all try to make the case that Arizona voters should support Arizona’s Proposition 139, which would enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution.
But the rallies and canvassing events are also meant to encourage Arizonans to support Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
“It’s really important for Arizonans to not split their vote, to ensure that, while they are voting in support of reproductive freedom on the ballot, that they are also voting for reproductive champions and not canceling out one protection for another,” said national Planned Parenthood Action Fund president Alexis McGill Johnson, who will speak at events in Sun City and South Phoenix over the weekend.
Former President Donald Trump, a Republican, has taken credit for appointing three U.S. Supreme Court justices who cast votes in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending federal abortion protections. But during his campaign this year, he has said he would not support a national abortion ban and believes abortion regulations should be left to states.
McGill Johnson said democrats have the more consistent track record of supporting abortion rights.
