- In the wake of the leak of the draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade, majorities remain pro-choice and support abortion being legal.
- While Republicans identify banning abortion as a long-time stance of their party, independents are unsure if it is a well-established or newer position for Republicans.
- The most concerning messaging lanes about Republican stances on abortion focus on the party’s support for bans without exceptions and their interference in a decision that should be between a woman and her doctor.
- Since the draft decision leaked, a growing plurality support expanding the Supreme Court.
Americans Are Increasingly Pro-Choice and Majorities Feel Abortion Should Be Legal in All or Most Cases
A majority of independents (53%) and nearly half of Republicans (44%) identify as “pro-choice,” while majorities across gender (55% of men, 58% of women) and racial groups think abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
Bipartisan Majorities Feel the Right to an Abortion in the United States Is at Risk
Nearly seven in ten Americans say the right to an abortion nationally is at risk. Americans in the Midwest (67%), the South (66%), and in states with trigger laws* (70%) most strongly feel the right to an abortion in their state is at risk.
Americans are Split on Whether Supporting Overturning Abortion Rights Is a New or Long-Standing Republican View
While a plurality of Republicans (45%) believe overturning Roe is an outcome their party has long wanted, Democrats and independents are more split: 44% of Democrats and 32% of independents believe it is evidence modern Republicans have become more extreme.
Less Effective Messages on Republican Abortion Stances Focus on Extreme Judicial Nominees, Defunding Child-Focused Policies
Nearly three in five Republicans find a statement about Republicans supporting abortion bans even in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk “concerning” (57%).
Three in Five Are Familiar With the Filibuster, and Bipartisan Pluralities Say Eliminating It Would Have a Positive Impact
A majority of Democrats (70%) think getting rid of the filibuster would have a positive impact on making our government work better for the people it represents, as do pluralities of independents (36%) and Republicans (41%).
Since the Leak of SCOTUS’s Draft Decision on Roe v. Wade, a Growing Share Support Expanding the Supreme Court
Support for expanding the Supreme Court has increased by 13 points since late March (from net -5 to net +8).
• Support has grown by 19 points among Black Americans (net +28 to net +47) and 18 points among Hispanics (net +8 to net +26).
About The Study
May 23, 2022. 102 additional interviews were conducted among Hispanic voters. 62 additional interviews were
conducted among Asian American and Pacific Islander voters. 105 additional interviews were conducted among
African American voters. 102 additional interviews were conducted among independent voters.