Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech on reproductive health rights at a rally in Houston Friday night comes as Democrats across the country are expected to focus on the issue as they make their closing arguments of the 2024 campaign.
In the two-and-a-half years since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade and the federal right to an abortion, reproductive health has become an increasingly important issue for Democrats who point to the impact of the landmark decision. Twenty-one states ban some or nearly all abortions before the point of viability, and 2024 marks the first presidential election in this landscape.
In the lead-up to the elections, some candidates say the issue resonates more with voters than during the initial backlash to the ruling, even in states that have since moved to codify protections for reproductive health in lieu of a national standard.
