How a $16 million Arizona abortion ad campaign could help Democrats
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Arizona Abortion Access Act has already booked nearly $16 million in ads to push for the ballot proposition that would engrain Roe-era abortion protections in the state constitution, per AdImpact data.
Why it matters: Democrats hope having abortion on the ballot will keep the focus on their most potent issue — and turn out voters.
- Similar eye-popping spending is underway to support initiatives in Nevada and Montana — two other states with the potential to decide U.S. Senate control and the presidency.
The big picture: Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, abortion rights have won out on the ballot in state after state.
- Having the option to vote to protect access to abortion in their state may help Democrats turn out important voting blocs such as young people and women who are independents.
What they're saying: "The fight for reproductive freedom will once again be at the forefront of the issues landscape in Senate battlegrounds, and Senate Republican candidates' well-documented opposition to women's right to make their own health care decisions is a deal breaker for voters," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Tommy Garcia told Axios.
Yes, but: Arizona for Abortion Access spokesperson Dawn Penich told Axios their campaign is nonpartisan and focused on their "own message of restoring and protecting abortion access."
- "We definitely welcome and appreciate supportive messaging — and we know that there's broad support for abortion rights among voters on both sides of the aisle — but we don't otherwise coordinate with candidates," she said.
The other side:"Democrats don't want to talk about Kamala Harris' role as border czar, her support for defunding the police, or her embrace of the failure that is Bidenomics, so they are going to run a single-issue campaign on abortion," National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Mike Berg told Axios.
- "Kari Lake is the only woman and mom in the race. She opposes a national abortion ban," a Lake spokesperson told Axios.