Gadarian Discusses the Senate-Blocked Women's Health Protection Act in France 24 Article

May 12, 2022

France 24

Shana Kushner Gadarian

Political Science Department

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

Civil Rights

Congress

Gender and Sex

Government

Political Parties

United States

France 24

Shana Kushner Gadarian

Democrats tried on Wednesday to push forward legislation—the Women's Health Protection Act—to guarantee abortion rights nationwide, as Republicans and one Democrat in the Senate blocked an effort to enshrine the landmark Roe v. Wade precedent in federal law. Although the outcome was never in doubt, the rejection is seen as significant, with abortion rights set to be a hot button issue for November's midterm elections.

"Generally, the people who vote and turn out based on abortion policy are those who support more restrictions on abortion rights," said Shana Gadarian, professor and chair of political science. "By striking down Roe, this is likely to create a new constituency of pro-choice voters who are activated to turn out and donate in ways that they would not normally in a midterm election," she says.

Read more in the France 24 article, "US Republicans block Senate bill to protect access to abortion."

Gadarian was also later quoted in the syndicated AFP piece, "U.S. abortion ruling roils midterm election campaign."