In 2022, the landmark decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade eliminated federal protections for abortion, relegating the power to regulate it back to individual states. This shift prompted a diverse array of state-level legislation, ranging from stringent bans to strong protections for reproductive rights.
Amidst these changes, former President Donald Trump hinted at backing a nationwide ban on abortion at 15 weeks of gestation but subsequently retracted this position, advocating instead for states to make their own laws. This stance seems to resonate with a segment of the American populace, as revealed by a recent Newsweek poll conducted on April 11. According to this poll, a growing number of U.S. citizens prefer state control over federal oversight on abortion matters, with 41% favoring state jurisdiction, 39% supporting federal mandates, and 20% undecided.
This preference marks a shift from earlier polling data. A previous Newsweek poll a month earlier showed a slight majority favoring federal intervention, and by February, public opinion was evenly split. The breakdown of the latest poll by presidential preference reveals that 57% of Trump supporters endorse state-level decision-making on abortion, up from previous months. In contrast, a consistent majority of President Joe Biden’s backers, 55% as of April, argue for federal oversight, reflecting a minor decline from March but an increase from February.
These trends indicate that Trump’s current position on state rights aligns well with his voter base, whereas Biden’s approach aims for federal legislation to secure abortion rights nationally. This divergence sets the stage for abortion to be a pivotal issue in the 2024 election. According to a Wall Street Journal poll, abortion ranks as the top concern for women in swing states.
Moreover, the issue appears to galvanize pro-choice women, potentially boosting Democratic candidates in the upcoming elections. A March KFF Health Tracking poll highlighted that for one in eight voters, abortion is their primary concern for the fall ballot.
The contrast between Trump’s support for state discretion and Biden’s advocacy for nationwide protections underscores the fundamental choice facing voters in November: whether they align more closely with the principles of state autonomy or universal federal rights.
