Dawn Rattan’s emotions overflow as tears stream down her face and she joins in the resounding applause. This heartfelt moment takes place at the watch party organized by Kansans for Constitutional Freedom. The reason for this outpouring of emotion? The recent decision by Kansans to uphold abortion as a fundamental constitutional right. Lily O’Shea Becker beautifully captures this powerful moment through her lens.
Abortion rights have a way of challenging long-held political beliefs and assumptions in a world without Roe v. Wade.
In August 2022, the people of Kansas demonstrated a bipartisan consensus as they decisively rejected a state constitutional amendment. This particular amendment would have granted lawmakers the power to ban the procedure of abortion. Similarly, the state of Arizona is facing a comparable situation, as the state supreme court has recently ruled that a law dating back to 1864 effectively prohibits abortion for residents of the Grand Canyon State in almost all circumstances.
Kansas and Arizona have distinct differences. While Arizona is currently considered a swing state, Kansas is not expected to play a significant role in the outcome of the presidential election.
Arizona voters will probably have to decide on the legality of the procedure in their state, just like Kansas voters did. Having closely observed the entire campaign in Kansas, I feel compelled to offer some advice and caution to the people of Arizona and their lawmakers, who might be grappling with the new political situation.
Republican legislators will likely attempt to find ways to address and mitigate the issue at hand. They may consider proposing a separate measure to be voted on by the public. Alternatively, they may choose to adopt a more passive approach, laying low and waiting for the situation to resolve itself, potentially using extreme rhetoric as a means of distraction.
No way.
Both parties are likely unaware of the true significance of this decision. Despite the widespread media attention surrounding Arizona’s court-imposed ban, the importance of this ruling is likely underestimated.
The abortion amendment’s rejection by Kansas voters in 2022 garnered significant national attention, leaving a lingering impact on our Statehouse. Despite relentless efforts by Kansas Republicans, who are influenced by a powerful anti-abortion lobby, to enact laws aimed at restricting abortion, their practical effects have been relatively limited. Previous laws in this regard have consistently faced legal blockades.
Whenever an article is published by Kansas Reflector regarding abortion rights, we often receive an overwhelming response from frustrated readers who question: Haven’t we already had a vote on this matter?
After Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the most recent batch of anti-abortion legislation passed by the Legislature, Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, expressed her thoughts on the matter. According to Wales, Kelly’s veto sends a strong message to lawmakers that in Kansas, the will of the voters should be respected. She emphasized that the people have made it clear that they do not want politicians interfering in their personal healthcare decisions.
Signs supporting and opposing the state constitutional amendment were seen all over Kansas during the summer. Now that the vote has concluded, let’s reflect on the outcome.
Political lines
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Surprisingly, there has been less political realignment around the issue than one might expect.
The national press often portrays abortion rights as a partisan issue, with Republicans opposing it and Democrats supporting it.
The truth is much more complex. Many individuals from both political parties have reservations about abortion but do not advocate for its complete prohibition. On the Democratic side, there is a minority who vehemently oppose any form of restriction, while within the Republican party, a small number strongly advocate for stringent restrictions.
In Kansas, there are currently more registered Republicans than registered Democrats, with a count of 872,303 Republicans compared to 503,962 Democrats as of March. The defeat of the amendment was a rejection of partisanship rather than an endorsement of it. Those opposing the amendment provided a justification for Republicans and conservatives to support abortion rights. They highlighted that the amendment would infringe on personal freedoms and individual liberty.
“People are deeply committed to safeguarding their rights and firmly believe in the freedom to make choices for themselves and their families,” stated Ashley All, one of the masterminds behind the campaign, in 2022. “This sentiment resonates universally, regardless of one’s location within the country.”
Democrats could have easily embraced such a compelling and straightforward message, much like a famished individual stumbling upon an all-you-can-eat buffet. However, the party, known for its political ineptitude, persistently approached reproductive rights as if they were a scorching stove capable of damaging their candidates with even the slightest contact.
The campaign season took on an unusual split.
In August, the amendment faced strong opposition from Kansans, who voted against it by nearly 20 percentage points. However, during the November elections, Democratic candidates did not receive the overwhelming support they had hoped for. Despite this, anti-choice Republicans were successful in maintaining their supermajorities in both the House and Senate. This outcome came as a disappointment to advocates who had anticipated a different result.
For those who closely follow politics and have a deep understanding of how parties align ideologically, such a statement may seem nonsensical. However, everyday voters may not have the same perspective.
Hold on a second, you might be wondering. Does this imply that in Arizona, people will choose to support abortion rights while also voting for Donald Trump?
The answer is most likely yes.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, on the right, shared a warm embrace with Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes during an Aug. 2 primary election watch party in Overland Park. Davids secured her reelection to a third term on Tuesday, triumphing over Republican Amanda Adkins. The heartwarming moment was captured by Lily O’Shea Becker for the Kansas Reflector.
Opportunities ahead
There are two opportunities that I see for abortion-rights forces and Democrats in Arizona.
One important aspect is that the upcoming voter referendum is scheduled to be on the November ballot. This implies that individuals who come to vote on this matter will also be choosing state and federal candidates simultaneously. This strategy aims to address the low youth turnout issues that Kansas encountered in November 2022. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that split-ticket voters will also participate in the voting process.
Kansas Democrats were taken aback by the significant support for abortion rights. Despite this, they did not prioritize the issue in their campaigns during the fall. Even when Kelly, a centrist Democrat, ran for re-election, she hardly addressed the topic openly.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davis, a Democrat, made abortion a focal point of her campaign. Despite Republican attempts to gerrymander her out of office using new congressional maps in 2022, Davis prevailed with an even stronger victory margin. Her unwavering dedication to reproductive freedom played a crucial role in her success.
In a recent episode of the Kansas Reflector podcast, Davids expressed her support for the broad coalition of people who voted in favor of the Kansas amendment. According to her, this vote sent a strong message against extreme attempts to restrict reproductive health care. Davids believes that the most impactful action she can take is to vocalize her commitment to protecting these rights.
Arizona residents should be prepared for unexpected surprises.
The lessons I have just shared were not predetermined. They are simply based on my observations. As a nation, as regions, and as individual states, we are all grappling with the aftermath of the end of Roe v. Wade in our own unique ways. Rather than experiencing one massive earthquake, it feels more like a series of smaller tremors happening in different states consecutively.
Traditional anti-abortion messaging is no longer effective. In the past, it was simple to oppose abortion when Roe v. Wade provided a safety net. However, with the recent bans on abortion in more than a dozen states, politicians who once benefited from their stance against the procedure are now faced with the harsh reality that it is no longer a hypothetical issue.
Two years ago, Kansas anti-abortion advocates learned the hard way that the threat to women’s individual freedom is not just theoretical or political, but a real and present danger. This reality is something that voters strongly oppose.
Anti-abortion advocates in Arizona are about to discover this reality firsthand.
Clay Wirestone serves as the opinion editor for Kansas Reflector, where the platform strives to amplify the voices of individuals who are impacted by public policies or marginalized in public discourse. For more details, including instructions on how to submit your own commentary, please visit the website.
The issue of abortion rights is gaining prominence as Kansas and Arizona exchange words of caution.
