Senate Democrats are looking to put their GOP colleagues in the hot seat with topics they hope will sizzle with voters in November: birth control and in vitro fertilization.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade with the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Democrats have seized on reproductive rights as a topic that motivates voters, with an Alabama Supreme Court decision that declared embryos as children thrusting IVF into the spotlight earlier this year. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is looking to focus on these topics specifically, with votes on legislation that would force Senate Republicans to make a difficult decision regarding popular treatments, according to Axios.
The details are being worked out by a group of Senate Democrats, according to the outlet, and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said they are discussing actions for how to bring the matters to the Senate floor.
About 70% say access to IVF is a good thing. Birth control is even more popular, with 91% saying it should be free and widely available. The Alabama Supreme Court decision put Republicans, incumbents and challengers, in a tough spot, with many forced to come out with statements disagreeing with the right-leaning court’s ruling.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), a vulnerable senator, said he thinks the matters, especially abortion, will play into the key Senate races.
“I think it’s going to be a significant issue in all these races, including mine,” Casey said. “It’s a major dividing line between the two parties.”
Democrats are looking to repeat their 2022 success in making abortion a key topic, which allowed them to curb the expected “red wave” in the midterm elections and hold on to the Senate while also limiting GOP pickups in the House.
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced their solution to protect IVF nationwide earlier this week by unveiling a bill that would make access to it a condition for states to receive Medicaid funding from the federal government.
In addition to abortion, IVF, and birth control, Democrats are attempting to put Republicans on defense with border security, a key topic the GOP likes to push.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Schumer said earlier this week that he plans to hold a vote on a border security bill that had been negotiated by a bipartisan coalition but saw support fizzle once the text became public.
President Joe Biden, who is also in a tough reelection battle, has pushed for the bill, while his opponent, former President Donald Trump, has been accused by Democrats of killing the effort among Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said earlier this week the effort would be “dead on arrival” in the House of Representatives.