Large percentage of Republicans support abortion rights, not top issue for most

As November approaches, voters are revealing their top issues ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The issue of abortion has garnered significant attention recently, however, a new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that just 12% of voters rate it as their top concern.

The same poll found that 43% of Republicans support abortion in “all or most” cases. While the issue of abortion has divided Americans along party lines, there has been a decline in its influence on voter turnout compared to the 2022 midterm elections.

In 2022, a similar KFF survey found that 24% of voters considered abortion rights their top priority. Now, the latest survey reveals that only 12% view it as their most important issue.

More voters were reportedly motivated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, leading to the issue of abortion rights being left to individual states.

During the 2022 midterms, Democrats maintained control of the U.S. Senate, while Republicans regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives with a slim majority.

According to KFF’s most recent poll, 66% of voters across party lines support guaranteeing a federal right to abortion, including 43% of Republicans.

During the State of the Union Address on Thursday, March 7, President Joe Biden vowed to restore abortion protections once covered by Roe v. Wade.

“If you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land,” Biden said.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, The New York Times reported that 21 states have implemented restrictions on abortion, while 26 states have expanded abortion rights. Three states have abortion bans currently held up in courts.

Despite differing views with GOP leadership, the new polling by KFF shows that very few Republican voters who support abortion rights are willing to vote against the Republican Party in 2024.