CLEVELAND — Ohio’s “heartbeat” bill, which effectively bans most abortions, was overturned by the Supreme Court last month.
Republicans, including Gov. It was a political win for Mike DeWine (an abortion-rights opponent) who signed it into law. However, the decision gave Democrats in an ever redder state an energizing cause that was matched by bipartisan public opinion. They hope to unseat DeWine this year.
Nan Whaley was the first woman to be nominated by a major party for governor. She quickly refocused her campaign, and promised to run a ballot initiative to incorporate Roe’s protections in the Ohio Constitution. Democrats view the issue as an “X-factor” that can mobilize a diverse, decisive coalition of voters. This includes suburban women who are moving away from the GOP.
“I believe it’s going be hugely mobilizing for the vote in November,” Katie Paris, an Ohio-based founder and president of Red Wine and Blue. Red Wine and Blue is a national organization that organizes suburban women. “What I find is that these conversations are not partisan.”
Whaley, the former mayor, of Dayton has been a DeWine foe since leading her city through a fatal mass shooting in 2019. The governor then continued to pass bills that were favorable to the gun lobby. Whaley believes that she has a unique message to share after Roe’s death and the recent mass shootings at Buffalo, New York, Uvalde and Texas.
Whaley, 46, stated this week that “these are the issues that Ohio is fighting.” He spoke to NBC News in an interview. “Frankly, it has made the stakes in this race extremely high, almost to the point that it’s uncomfortable for us, because I know what’s at risk come Nov. 8, if we are not successful.”
The Columbus Dispatch reported that DeWine spoke to Ohio Right to Life members days before the Supreme Court decision. He stated that he would support going “as far to protect human lives” if states had more constitutional freedom. DeWine was able to temper his excitement, admitting that he was happy, but also acknowledging that his position puts him in the rightful place of many voters, if not all.
DeWine, 75, stated that “as the issue abortion returns to the States, how we discuss it is so very important” in an address to Ohioans following the decision. It’s easy to let this debate get tough and it’s fine to have spirited debate. We must recognize that different views can be equally heartfelt and intelligent, and that caring, sincere, committed, and dedicated people can share them.
Some moderates could be turned against DeWine by the Supreme Court’s decision. Genevieve Hoffman was an attorney from the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington and a registered Republican. She considered herself to be fiscally conservative but socially liberal. She stated that she voted for DeWine, but will vote for Whaley this November.
Hoffman shared her concerns about Roe with Red Wine and Blue leaders. “Because Roe had been so settled for me in the past, I still felt comfortable voting to vote for candidates who did that view.” Hoffman said. “After Roe I am realizing that it is not a settled law. I can’t in good conscience vote to elect a candidate who continues taking away women’s rights.”
In May, Ohio voters voted abortion second after the economy in a poll conducted by Suffolk University. A plurality of respondents (48%) said that they oppose Roe v. Wade.
Whaley is still the underdog, even with timely signature issues. In the past 32 years, Ohio has only elected Ted Strickland as its Democratic governor. Since then, Republicans have had a lock on all other state offices and the Legislature. The state was won twice by former President Donald Trump, each time winning it by 8 percentage points. This year’s midterm elections could prove to be particularly difficult for Democrats, given the unpopularity of President Joe Biden.
Due to the GOP’s dominance of Ohio, a voter-driven initiative such as the one Whaley proposed is the best path towards codifying abortion rights. Whaley also has relevant experience. She was part of the 2011 campaign to repeal a law that was designed to crush public-employee unions.
Whaley stated that people don’t like the way they are being governed. To make it happen, you need to get to direct democracy.
Republicans accuse Whaley of supporting abortion without limitations, despite not being able to read the ballot language. After Roe was overturned, a Harvard University/Harris poll found that 55% of registered voters nationwide opposed Roe but most said they believe their states should place restrictions on abortion.
Bob Paduchik (the state’s GOP chair) said that Nan Whaley’s campaign was “drowning” and is desperately seeking terra firma. Surprisingly, she chose to put her entire political career on the most extreme of abortion positions — no restrictions until the moment of childbirth.
Whaley refutes this characterization. She stated that her goal is to insinuate in the Ohio Constitution rights that existed before the Supreme Court’s decision. Before then, abortions could not be banned in states before fetal viability or 24 weeks into a pregnant woman’s pregnancy.
Whaley critics also claim that economic issues will influence voters more.
“Abortion should be No. 1, for people like me, and maybe some of Republican base,” stated Mike Gonidakis, Ohio Right to Life President. “But if I ask an average Democrat or Independent in Ohio, gas prices and food prices, inflation, and the economy — these are all issues that come before the issue about abortion.”
This argument is particularly offensive to those who support abortion rights.
According to Emilia Sykes (Akron Democrat), women make up more than half of Ohio’s population and are a large part of the electorate. Sykes is running this fall for Congress in a competitive district. It would be foolish to suggest it isn’t important.
Sykes said, “This is very much a economic issue.” “When you look at surveys about why people seek abortion care, it is clear that people talk about inability to care and support another child.
Whaley believes that higher participation at events is a sign of encouragement. According to state party officials, 5,000 protestors gathered at the Statehouse in the days following Roe’s ruling.
Liz Walters (the state Democratic chair) said that women have stopped her at public toilets on at least four occasions recently to vent about the Supreme Court decision. Walters, a party operative for many years, had never experienced such frustration before.
