Democrats Need to Start Changing the Abortion-Rights Debate by Putting Republicans on the Spot

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade and allow states (and, perhaps, the federal government) to pass laws restricting abortions or even banning them outright should be a political boon to Democrats. Overturning Roe is unpopular with voters. Banning abortion, which trigger laws that have gone into effect in a number of red states are now doing, is even more unpopular. Anti-abortion supporters are concentrated in the Republican Party, and in particular in deep-red states. And suburban middle-class voters — many of whom voted for Biden in 2020 but have grown disenchanted with Democrats thanks to inflation and high gas prices — in purple and light-blue districts and states are generally supportive of abortion rights.

That doesn’t mean that Dobbs is going to turn lots of people into single-issue voters. But it does, or at least should, shift the political calculus for the upcoming midterm elections (and, even more so, for the 2024 elections). That’s especially true since the anti-abortion movement is not going to remain content with putting abortion restrictions in place on the state level — it will also be pushing for federal legislation. And many Republicans, particularly in the House, will support these bills. After all, more than 100 House Republicans, and 19 GOP…