Thunderclap ballot box victory on abortion rights in Kansas gives Democrats a potent midterm issue

Introduction

The midterm elections are less than a year away, and the Senate is up for grabs. But one of the biggest issues to come out of Tuesday night's election in Kansas was one that could wind up becoming a rallying cry for Democrats: banning all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The amendment passed, handily, with more than 60 percent of the vote.

Thunderclap ballot box victory on abortion rights in Kansas gives Democrats a potent midterm issue

A ballot box victory on abortion rights in Kansas gives Democrats a potent midterm issue that they hope will be a harbinger of other victories.

The amendment passed, handily, with more than 60 percent of the vote. The Kansas Constitution will now declare that the state cannot deny a person “a right to abortion prior to viability of the fetus” or afterward if a woman’s life or health is at risk.

Democrats are hoping it will be a harbinger of other victories: The party has long seen this as an important path back into power after losing control of both chambers during President Donald Trump's first term.

The new rallying cry comes amid heightened uncertainty over Trump's ability to govern since he entered office last year with few accomplishments and several scandals involving his administration (including possible collusion between Russian officials and his campaign).

The amendment passed, handily, with more than 60 percent of the vote.

You may have heard about this ballot box victory for abortion rights in Kansas.

The amendment passed, handily, with more than 60 percent of the vote.

It was a victory for abortion rights and Democrats everywhere who understand that there is no such thing as “pro-life” or “pro-choice” when it comes to women's health care—only women who can make their own decisions should be able to decide what happens inside their own bodies.

Democrats are hoping it will be a harbinger of other victories — and a new rallying cry in their effort to recapture the House and Senate.

The Kansas ballot box victory is a harbinger of other victories Democrats hope will come in the midterm elections.

It also should be a rallying cry for the party that hopes to recapture the House and Senate from Republicans, who have controlled them since 2010.

The Claire McCaskill-Joe Donnelly Senate race in Missouri comes to mind: Both candidates are trailing by double digits despite having institutional support from their parties and both have struggled with female voters who are turned off by their partisan affiliation.

Conclusion

It’s still too early for Democrats to declare victory in the fight over abortion rights, and it will be months before we know whether their efforts in Kansas paid off. But if history is any guide, there’s reason to believe they could do even better this November. For one thing, the Republican Party has been losing ground among women voters for years now — and those who back anti-abortion measures tend to be disproportionately male. In addition, polls show that voters are generally supportive of expanded access to contraception (which is often what happens when states expand access on its own). Finally, Democrats have a great opportunity here: If they can harness the energy around this issue and make it relevant again in 2018—as reproductive health advocates like Planned Parenthood have been doing all year long—Republicans won't stand a chance at retaining Congress or winning back state legislatures across America."