As Trump and GOP Embrace Anti-Choice Extremism at RNC, New Polling Shows Voters in Battleground States Support Reproductive Freedom, Reject Banning Abortion - Reproductive Freedom for All

Formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America

Press Release

As Trump and GOP Embrace Anti-Choice Extremism at RNC, New Polling Shows Voters in Battleground States Support Reproductive Freedom, Reject Banning Abortion

For Immediate Release: August 25, 2020

Contact: [email protected]

Strong majority support for reproductive freedom in North Carolina, Arizona, Michigan, and Iowa shows how out-of-touch Trump is with key voters 

Washington, DC — As the Republican National Convention convenes this week, featuring a red carpet rollout for anti-choice extremists, NARAL Pro-Choice America released new polling by Public Policy Polling in battleground states showing strong majority support for reproductive freedom and underscoring how out-of-touch Trump and Republicans are with the American public on the issue of abortion.

The new poll shows that a large majority (76%) of voters in battleground states — North Carolina, Arizona, Michigan, and Iowa– agree (with 60% in strong agreement) that any decision about pregnancy should be made by the woman with the support of people she loves and trusts, while just 18% disagree. This includes 79% of independent voters and 55% of Republicans.

“When it comes to access to abortion and reproductive freedom, Trump and the anti-choice, anti-freedom movement could not be farther out of touch with the American public, and critical to winning in November is spotlighting their extreme ideology for voters to see,” said NARAL Pro-Choice America Chief Communications and Research Officer Adrienne Kimmell. “The RNC may put their radical agenda on a high pedestal and give it a loud microphone, but we know that stands in stark contrast with the vast majority of Americans’ beliefs. NARAL will work every day between now and the election to ensure battleground state voters understand what’s at stake for reproductive freedom, and vote out not just Trump, but also the anti-choice senators who champion these regressive policies like Thom Tillis, Martha McSally, Joni Ernst, and more.” 

Other highlights from the poll:

  • 73% of voters support reproductive freedom, believe abortion should be legal, and that the government should not prevent a woman from making that decision for herself.

  • Just 13% say they would only consider voting for a candidate who supports banning abortion in the November election.

  • Voters in these key states also show strong support for respecting a woman’s freedom to make personal decisions. 66% agree that one-size-fits-all laws simply don’t work when people are making personal medical decisions, while just 19% disagree.

  • Even a majority of voters who supported Trump in 2016 support reproductive freedom: 51% believe that the government should not prevent a woman from making that decision for herself, and 59% agree that decisions about pregnancy should be made by the woman with the support of people she loves and trusts.

  • Overwhelming majorities of African-Americans (94%) and Hispanic and Latinx voters (89%) support reproductive freedom and access to abortion and believe the government should not prevent a woman from making that decision herself. 88% of African-Americans and 86% of Hispanic and Latinx voters also agree that decisions on pregnancy should be made by women.

  • A majority of voters in many faiths support reproductive freedom and access to abortion, including including 73% of Protestants, 70% of Roman Catholics, 83% of voters who practice another form of Christianity, 89% of Jewish voters, 60% of Muslims, and 87% who practice another religion.

The RNC announced that anti-choice extremist Abby Johnson will speak at the convention, showcasing their desperation to push out a wildly unpopular agenda in order to rile up Trump’s base, even though the majority of Americans—77%— support the right to abortion. Despite anti-choice lawmakers’ unprecedented barrage of attacks across the country, there is no state where banning abortion is popular.

As part of NARAL’s multi-faceted and largest-ever electoral program for the 2020 election, in which NARAL is investing $34.7 million targeting key races and persuading movable voters, NARAL is holding Republican senators in battleground states accountable for their anti-choice, anti-freedom stances.

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NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all. For more than 50 years, NARAL has worked to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. Since 1969, NARAL has made history, grown to over 2.5 million members, and met the moments that have defined this fight with action, power, and freedom. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”