Kamala Harris/ Donald Trump/ 2024 election/ abortion rights/ Texas abortion ban/ Roe v. Wade/ reproductive care/ battleground states/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President Kamala Harris plans a campaign stop in Texas to focus on the state’s strict abortion laws, hoping to engage battleground voters in other states. By linking Trump’s role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade to Texas’ restrictive abortion policies, Harris is drawing attention to reproductive rights as a key election issue.
Harris Highlights Texas Abortion Ban to Reach Battleground Voters – Quick Look
- Harris to campaign in Texas, spotlighting the state’s strict abortion laws.
- Focus on Trump’s role in appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.
- Event aimed at raising awareness among voters in key battleground states.
- Harris shares stories of women affected by abortion restrictions in Texas and Georgia.
- Democrats see reproductive rights as a central issue in the 2024 election.
Harris Campaigns in Texas, Spotlights Trump’s Role in Ending Roe v. Wade
Deep Look
Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to Texas just 10 days before Election Day, making a high-profile stop to address one of the key issues Democrats are counting on: reproductive rights. Harris will visit Houston on Friday, where she plans to meet with women affected by Texas’ restrictive abortion laws—laws that came into effect after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. This event is a critical part of Harris’ broader strategy to reignite the debate over reproductive care and draw attention to the implications of Donald Trump’s presidency, especially his role in shaping the current landscape of abortion access in the U.S.
Although Texas is traditionally a Republican stronghold, Harris’ campaign views the state as an essential stage for highlighting the national stakes of reproductive rights. The focus, however, isn’t on flipping Texas itself. Instead, the goal is to capture the attention of voters in battleground states who may be overwhelmed by traditional campaign tactics. “Texas is the stage for this event,” said David Plouffe, a senior campaign adviser. “But for us, the most important audience are folks in the battlegrounds.”
Harris is using personal stories to amplify the real-world consequences of abortion restrictions. One of the cases she frequently mentions is that of Amanda Zurawski, a Texas woman who nearly lost her life due to doctors’ hesitation to intervene in her premature labor. Doctors in Texas cited the state’s abortion ban, which allows intervention only when the woman’s life is imminently at risk, as the reason for their delayed treatment. Another case Harris discusses is that of Amber Thurman, a Georgia mother who died after waiting for 20 hours to receive treatment for complications from an abortion pill.
These stories have become symbolic of the broader crisis Harris is aiming to address. In recent weeks, the Supreme Court has allowed Texas hospitals to withhold abortion care even when doing so would violate federal law. This ruling underscores the ongoing uncertainty and fear surrounding reproductive health care in states like Texas, where abortion laws are some of the strictest in the nation.
Harris’ campaign is quick to remind voters that Donald Trump was instrumental in this shift. During his presidency, Trump nominated three conservative justices to the Supreme Court—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—who ultimately formed the majority opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade. Harris plans to emphasize Trump’s continued influence over the issue, warning that if re-elected, he could further erode abortion rights nationwide. “Donald Trump’s role in eliminating Roe v. Wade is clear, and the impact has been devastating for people in states like Texas,” said Plouffe.
Despite the focus on Texas, Harris’ event is aimed at energizing voters in swing states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. Her team believes that highlighting the harsh consequences of Texas’ abortion ban will resonate with voters in these battleground areas, where reproductive rights are a deeply divisive issue. With key battleground voters constantly bombarded by campaign ads, the Texas visit is part of a broader effort to cut through the noise with a compelling narrative about reproductive justice.
Harris’ trip to Texas is part of a larger strategy to keep abortion rights at the forefront of voters’ minds. Since Roe was overturned, seven states—including conservative-leaning ones—have voted to either protect abortion rights or reject attempts to restrict them. The campaign hopes that by emphasizing the stakes of the 2024 election, Harris can galvanize support in critical swing states, where the issue could tip the scales.
At the same time, the trip allows Harris to connect with Texas Democrats, including Rep. Colin Allred, who is in a tough race to unseat Republican Senator Ted Cruz. Harris will also take part in a podcast interview with renowned author and speaker Brené Brown, further broadening her appeal to various voter demographics.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to navigate his stance on abortion, which has become a thorny issue for Republicans in the 2024 election. Although Trump initially supported a federal ban on abortion after 20 weeks, he has since shifted his position several times, most recently suggesting that the issue should be left to the states. His ambiguity on the subject has led to mixed reactions from conservative voters, with some viewing him as inconsistent.
Despite his fluctuating stance, Trump remains steadfast in his belief that his economic policies resonate more with voters than Harris’ focus on reproductive rights. His campaign argues that under Biden and Harris, Americans—particularly women—have suffered from rising inflation and economic uncertainty. Trump has promised that his return to office would bring back the economic prosperity that marked his first term.
Still, polling shows that a significant number of Americans support access to legal abortion. A July survey from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 6 in 10 Americans believe abortion should be allowed in all or most cases. This aligns with the growing number of states where voters have chosen to safeguard abortion rights in the post-Roe era.
As Harris heads to Texas, her campaign is betting that the focus on reproductive health will prove decisive. With just 10 days left before Election Day, both candidates are working to energize their bases while courting swing voters in battleground states. Whether Harris’ message on abortion rights resonates more than Trump’s economic promises could play a key role in the outcome of the 2024 election.
