Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Abortion Has Passed Inflation as Top Election Issue for Women Under 30, Survey Finds
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 7 months ago on
October 11, 2024

KFF survey reveals abortion has surpassed inflation as the primary election concern for women under 30, following Harris' nomination. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Abortion has passed inflation to become the top issue in the presidential election for women younger than 30 since Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, according to results released Friday of a survey of female voters by KFF.

About 2 in 5 in the group of young voters said abortion was their top concern in the recent survey, compared with 1 in 5 who ranked it most important in the same survey in the spring.

Shifting Priorities Among Female Voters

In the earlier edition, inflation was the top concern for younger voters, as it was for women voters of all ages. Inflation remained the top concern for women in each age group over 30 and women overall. Women overall ranked abortion as their No. 3 concern, after inflation and threats to democracy, but ahead of immigration.

KFF, a health policy research, polling and news organization, surveyed 678 female voters from Sept. 12 through Oct. 1. Most of them were participants in an earlier wave of the same poll, conducted in May and June. The follow-up survey group was supplemented with 29 Black women to ensure an adequate sample size of that group. The sampling error was plus or minus 5 points, with larger ranges for subgroups of voters.

Abortion Landscape Shifts After Roe v. Wade Overturned

Abortion has long been a major issue, but the landscape shifted in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court, powered by three justices nominated by Harris’ current opponent, former President Donald Trump, overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door for states to impose abortion bans.

Most Republican-controlled states are now enforcing such bans, including 13 that bar abortions at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions, and four with bans that kick in after about the first six weeks of pregnancy — before women often realize they’re pregnant.

Harris has been making abortion access a centerpiece of her campaign.

Impact of Elections on Abortion Policy

In addition to the presidential race, a number of other elections this year could impact the abortion landscape, including in nine states where there are ballot measures that would protect the right to abortion in the state constitution.

Races for Congress — as well as state offices such as governor, legislators, state supreme court justices and attorneys general — could also help determine abortion policy moving ahead.

Overall, about two-thirds of women said the election will have a major impact on abortion access, up from just over half in the initial survey.

Most women said it is likely Trump would sign a federal law banning abortions after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy if Congress were to pass such a measure. Just as the survey period ended, Trump said he would veto an abortion ban if one reached his desk.

The majority said they believe Harris would sign a law protecting access to abortion nationwide if Congress were to pass that.

There’s a deep partisan split over which candidate would be better on abortion access. Most women said they preferred Harris, including 90% of Democrats and fewer than one-fifth of Republicans. The survey found similar dividing lines around which candidate would be better for birth control access and in vitro fertilization.

The survey found that Republican women are slightly less hopeful and enthusiastic, and more anxious and frustrated, about the presidential election than they were earlier this year. By contrast, Democratic women are far more hopeful and enthusiastic, though their anxiousness has also risen.

Like in the spring, a little over half of GOP women are satisfied with their presidential choices. But satisfaction among Democratic women shot up from just over one-third to three-quarters.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Wins a Second 3-Year Term

DON'T MISS

Justice Department Will Switch Its Focus on Voting and Prioritize Trump’s Elections Order

DON'T MISS

Newsom Jabs at Trump and Musk, but Will AI Make California More Efficient?

DON'T MISS

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial to Delve Into the Seediest Side of Rap’s ‘Bad Boy’

DON'T MISS

Robbie Ray’s Gem Leads the Giants Over the Rockies

DON'T MISS

Voters to Decide if Home of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Should Become an Official City: Starbase

DON'T MISS

World’s Tallest and Smallest Dogs Meet Up for a Playdate

DON'T MISS

Yamamoto Allows Only 1 Hit in 6 Scoreless Innings and Betts Homers as Dodgers Hold Off Braves 2-1

DON'T MISS

Tennessee Police Release Video of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Traffic Stop in 2022

DON'T MISS

University of Texas Chancellor Is Named President of the University of California

UP NEXT

Justice Department Will Switch Its Focus on Voting and Prioritize Trump’s Elections Order

UP NEXT

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial to Delve Into the Seediest Side of Rap’s ‘Bad Boy’

UP NEXT

Robbie Ray’s Gem Leads the Giants Over the Rockies

UP NEXT

Voters to Decide if Home of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Should Become an Official City: Starbase

UP NEXT

World’s Tallest and Smallest Dogs Meet Up for a Playdate

UP NEXT

Yamamoto Allows Only 1 Hit in 6 Scoreless Innings and Betts Homers as Dodgers Hold Off Braves 2-1

UP NEXT

Tennessee Police Release Video of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Traffic Stop in 2022

UP NEXT

University of Texas Chancellor Is Named President of the University of California

UP NEXT

Here’s Why May the 4th Is Celebrated as Star Wars Day Across the Galaxy

UP NEXT

Need a Break Without Using PTO? These Remote Rentals Are Perfect for Your Next Workcation

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial to Delve Into the Seediest Side of Rap’s ‘Bad Boy’

2 hours ago

Robbie Ray’s Gem Leads the Giants Over the Rockies

2 hours ago

Voters to Decide if Home of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Should Become an Official City: Starbase

2 hours ago

World’s Tallest and Smallest Dogs Meet Up for a Playdate

2 hours ago

Yamamoto Allows Only 1 Hit in 6 Scoreless Innings and Betts Homers as Dodgers Hold Off Braves 2-1

2 hours ago

Tennessee Police Release Video of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Traffic Stop in 2022

2 hours ago

University of Texas Chancellor Is Named President of the University of California

2 hours ago

Here’s Why May the 4th Is Celebrated as Star Wars Day Across the Galaxy

2 hours ago

Need a Break Without Using PTO? These Remote Rentals Are Perfect for Your Next Workcation

3 hours ago

Lady Gaga to Draw 1.6 Million Fans to Copacabana, Boosting Brazilian Airlines and Rio’s Economy

17 hours ago

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Wins a Second 3-Year Term

MELBOURNE — Anthony Albanese claimed victory as the first Australian prime minister to clinch a second consecutive term in 21 years on Satur...

26 minutes ago

26 minutes ago

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Wins a Second 3-Year Term

28 minutes ago

Justice Department Will Switch Its Focus on Voting and Prioritize Trump’s Elections Order

2 hours ago

Newsom Jabs at Trump and Musk, but Will AI Make California More Efficient?

2 hours ago

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial to Delve Into the Seediest Side of Rap’s ‘Bad Boy’

2 hours ago

Robbie Ray’s Gem Leads the Giants Over the Rockies

2 hours ago

Voters to Decide if Home of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Should Become an Official City: Starbase

2 hours ago

World’s Tallest and Smallest Dogs Meet Up for a Playdate

2 hours ago

Yamamoto Allows Only 1 Hit in 6 Scoreless Innings and Betts Homers as Dodgers Hold Off Braves 2-1

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend