The longstanding issue of abortion has caused constant contention across America for decades, in no small part due to how polarized the country has become. The struggle to find a political solution to the issue has been a challenge for Republicans in particular, as most of their primary base is strongly opposed to abortion.
This difficulty has only intensified over the years due to the progressive nature of the Democratic party and the Trump administration’s policies on abortion, which include increasing restrictions on abortions and withholding funding for organizations that provide abortion-related services. This has left Republicans in a precarious position, as most of their base is strongly opposed to abortion, yet much of the country is in support of a woman’s right to choose.
Recent polls show that while Republicans still hold widespread disapproval of abortion, they have become dramatically more open to the idea of exceptions in the case of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother. Additionally, the public is generally in support of some form of abortion access, with 61 percent of respondents in a recent survey supporting abortion at least in some form, while only 34 percent were against it.
In response, Republicans have begun to adopt more nuanced strategies when it comes to the issue of abortion. At the same time, some are still steadfastly opposed to any type of abortion access; those held by religious fundamentalists and social conservatives in particular. Despite these different viewpoints, the Republican party has been struggling to find a unified approach towards abortion that appeals to both moderates and conservatives alike.
The result has been an increasing political divide on the issue. Many Democrats are increasingly supportive of abortion, but Republicans are more likely to remain quiet on the issue, instead trying to focus on other topics to appeal to their base.
The challenge for Republicans is to find a way to create a winning strategy on abortion that can bring together both sides of the partisan divide. Until that happens, the issue of abortion will continue to be contentious and divisive in America.