Poll: Views of Abortion in Battleground Districts

This Navigating the Battleground report contains polling data on perceptions of the political parties and incumbents on the issue of abortion, including views of abortion accessibility and protections, perceptions of party extremism on abortion, and which party is most trusted to handle issues pertaining to abortion.

A majority of constituents in battleground districts believe Republicans are too extreme on the issue of abortion and are far more extreme than Democrats on the issue.

By a 21-point margin, nearly three in five constituents say Republicans are too extreme on the issue of abortion (58 percent too extreme – 37 percent not extreme); by contrast, constituents are more evenly divided on whether Democrats are too extreme on abortion (48 percent too extreme – 46 percent not extreme). Nearly two in three independents say Republicans are too extreme on the issue of abortion (64 percent), compared to less than half who say Democrats are too extreme (49 percent). Moreover, 58 percent of constituents in battleground districts with a Republican incumbent believe Republicans are too extreme on the issue of abortion, compared to 47 percent who believe Democrats are too extreme. 

• Battleground constituents view Democrats as more trustworthy than Republicans by a 29-point margin when it comes to issues surrounding abortion (51 percent trust Democrats more – 22 percent trust Republicans more).
• Nearly two in three constituents say Republicans will pass more restrictions on abortion if they win the next election (63 percent), including 68 percent of women and 57 percent of independents.

Battleground constituents overwhelmingly believe abortion should be legal while they continue to be threatened across the country. 

Two in three constituents in battleground districts believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases (64 percent), with only six percent believing abortion should be illegal. Similarly, an overwhelming majority of battleground constituents say they don’t believe the government should prevent someone from making the decision to have an abortion (77 percent), with 45 percent saying they support someone’s right to an abortion and believe it should be legal and available, and an additional 32 percent saying they are personally against abortion, but don’t believe the government should prevent someone from making that decision. Nearly two in three independents and independent-leaners believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases (64 percent).

• Of those who are unfavorable toward both Biden and Trump, over half say they personally support the right to an abortion (56 percent), and an additional 30 percent say they personally do not support abortion but do not believe the government should prevent someone from making that decision. Only 14 percent of those who are unfavorable to Biden and Trump believe abortion is wrong and should be illegal. 
• Even most Republican constituents believe that there should not be government intervention into abortion access (57 percent), including 13 percent of Republicans who say they personally support someone’s right to an abortion and believe it should be legal and a larger 44 percent plurality who say that while they are personally against abortion, they do not believe the government should prevent someone from making the decision to have an abortion.

As states continue to impose abortion bans, a majority of battleground constituents support Congress establishing a national right to abortion.

57 percent say they would support legislation that protects the right to an abortion and protects physicians who provide abortions, including 58 percent support from independents. Further, a majority say they would be more likely to support their Congressperson if they supported protecting the right to abortion nationwide (55 percent), with 45 percent saying this would make them “much” more inclined to support their Congressperson. 

• A majority oppose the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade (56 percent), including 56 percent of battleground constituents living in districts with Republican incumbents, 55 percent of battleground constituents living in districts with Republican incumbents, and two in three battleground constituents who are unfavorable towards both Biden and Trump (66 percent).
• 65 percent of women under the age of 35 in battleground districts are more likely to support their Congressperson if they support protecting the right to an abortion nationwide, of which 55 percent say they would be “much” more likely to support them.