Planned Parenthood to Invest $40 Million in Upcoming Elections
Targeting Key States to Support Biden and Democrats
Planned Parenthood is gearing up for a significant political effort, allocating $40 million for the upcoming November elections to support President Joe Biden and key congressional Democrats. The organization is betting that voter frustration over Republican-led abortion restrictions could be decisive in key races across the nation.
Focus on Battleground States
The campaign will initially target eight crucial states:
Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin: Where Biden is defending his 2020 wins.
North Carolina: A state Biden’s campaign aims to flip.
Montana, New Hampshire, and New York: States with important races that could influence Senate and House control.
The strategy includes volunteer and paid canvassing, phone banking, and various advertising methods such as digital, TV, and mail.
Abortion as the Central Message
“Abortion will be the key message of this election, and it will energize voters,” said Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes. “It will help us secure victories.”
This $40 million spending plan, while substantial, is not the group’s largest. In previous election cycles, Planned Parenthood spent $45 million ahead of Biden’s 2020 win and $50 million before the 2022 midterms.
Impact of Roe v. Wade Overturn
Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the abortion debate has shifted significantly. Many Republican-controlled states have implemented new restrictions, including some complete bans.
However, voters in seven states, including traditionally Republican ones like Kansas and Ohio, have supported abortion-rights measures. This November, several other states, including battlegrounds like Arizona and Nevada, will have abortion referendums on the ballot.
Opposition and Broader Campaign Efforts
SBA Pro-Life America, a leading anti-abortion group, announced a $92 million spending plan targeting voters in eight battleground states, including Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Locally, Planned Parenthood advocacy groups in states like California, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio are planning their own campaigns. These efforts will not only focus on ballot measures but also on down-ballot races. For instance, in Nevada, they are supporting Democrats aiming for a supermajority in the statehouse and opposing two state supreme court justices in Arizona who previously upheld a strict 1864 abortion law.
“We can’t just vote for ballot measures,” said Lindsey Harmon, executive director for Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood Affiliates PAC. “We also need to support the infrastructure that ensures abortion access.”
As November approaches, the fight over abortion rights remains a central issue, with both sides mobilizing substantial resources to sway the outcome.