Duckworth: GOP voters switch sides due to abortion, as 2024 contenders court Iowa conservatives.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth Claims Republican Voters Changing Votes Due to Party’s Stance on Abortion

During a DNC call with reporters ahead of the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, made a bold statement. She asserted that both Republican men and women are reconsidering their votes because of the Republican Party’s position on abortion.

According to Duckworth, this sentiment is not limited to Republican women but extends to Republican men as well. She emphasized the proximity of her home state, Illinois, to Iowa, where the summit is taking place.

Republican Candidates Embracing Extreme Positions

Expressing her concerns about the gathering of social conservatives at the summit, Duckworth stated, “Tomorrow, we can expect these candidates to once again spend the day competing for who can embrace the most extreme positions, putting them further and further out of step with the American people.”

She also highlighted the recent passing of a six-week abortion ban by Republican legislators in Iowa, which she believes infringes on personal freedom. Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) is expected to sign the bill into law soon.

Democratic Leader Criticizes Family Leader Group

Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat, joined the call and criticized the Family Leader group, led by Bob Vander Plaats. She pointed out that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated this group as a hate group and described it as a right-wing extremist organization with significant influence in Iowa.

Konfrst also claimed that Republican lawmakers in Iowa did not campaign on the issue of abortion, possibly due to the unpopularity of restrictive abortion laws. She referred to a recent poll that showed 61% of Iowans believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases.

Republican Men Express Concerns Over Abortion Rights

Sen. Duckworth shared her experiences from her 2022 reelection campaign, where she conducted focus groups. She revealed that Republican men expressed concerns about abortion rights and their granddaughters’ future. Some even stated that they would vote Democratic for the first time because they believed the Republican Party’s stance on abortion was going too far.

Furthermore, Duckworth highlighted the voices of Republican women in Illinois who approached her, expressing their belief in smaller government and their opposition to government interference in their doctor’s offices.

Notably, the Family Leadership Summit will feature Republican presidential candidates such as Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former Vice President Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. While some candidates have committed to signing federal abortion bans, others have taken more nuanced positions.

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