Will Republicans return to the pro-life movement? I doubt it. | Opinion

The abortion rights debate has always been at the forefront of American politics.

But it wasn't until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 that politicians had to contend with what would happen if the debate was turned over to the states. And it wasn't until this election that we saw what, if any, impact that shift in protections would have on a presidential campaign.

Pro-life activists were able to beat three abortion ballot initiatives on Election Day that would have protected abortion access in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota. Even though these were rare ballot wins for the movement, the 2024 election cycle as a whole was disastrous for pro-lifers because conservative politicians abandoned us.

The GOP has done everything it can to push abortion out of the spotlight of the national political discussion, and the saddening truth for pro-lifers is that Republicans won this election because they dropped pro-life values.

GOP's softening on abortion worked for Trump. Voters proved it.

Donald Trump’s reelection campaign was a rare time in my lifetime when the GOP moderated on abortion. Trump vowed to veto a national ban and has maintained that he believes it is a question best left to the states.

As much as progressive activists want to argue that Trump is an anti-abortion extremist, his stance is an incredibly moderate one and lies where most Americans stand on the issue.

American public opinion on abortion has shifted in favor of legality since 2020, and state ballot measures reflect that. From 2022 to 2024, voters in several states handed the pro-life movement defeats.

Trump has a history of changing his policy positions, and no topic is that more evident with than abortion. I believe that Trump doesn't have a principled stance on abortion, or at least lacks a firm conviction on the issue. He believes in whatever will help him win, and he's taking Republicans with him down that uncommitted path.

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In their Trump-motivated 2024 platform, the GOP abandoned much of the pro-life staples of their past, choosing only to include that Republicans "oppose Late Term Abortion," which a majority of Americans agree with.

In the past, the GOP platform was in favor of a national abortion ban, something that now is political poison.

Trump's presidential victory means Republicans will have very little reason to get back to the traditional conservative stance on abortion.

Trump closed the gap on abortion with voters in 2024

Despite Democrats' messaging that painted Trump as a radically pro-life candidate, voters didn't believe them.

A CNN breakdown of voters showed that abortion wasn't the big win for Vice President Kamala Harris that progressives hoped it would be. Trump did well, for example, with voters who believe abortions should be legal in most cases.

Part of the reason for that support could be that the further we get from the Supreme Court decision, the less abortion matters to voters when compared with other issues, such as the economy.

American voters don’t see Trump as a radically pro-life candidate, even if they give him credit or blame for overturning Roe v. Wade. That suggests voters do not believe Democrats when they claim he will sign a national abortion ban.

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Pro-lifers shouldn't expect GOP help going forward

Now that the GOP has moderated on abortion and found success in doing so, there is little incentive to sink the massive amount of money required to change state constitutions for a cause that objectively harms their success in elections.

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For pro-lifers like myself who support a national ban recognizing that the right to life begins in the womb, it is clear that the GOP no longer stands with us in this fight, and that the pro-life movement is a losing battle for Republicans.

The largest human rights issue of our time is likely to remain on the back burner for the GOP for as long as the voters continue to reward their move away from life. Republican politicians and strategists will always choose votes, even over a fundamental an issue as the right to life.

To regain their help, pro-life activists need to change public opinion on abortion, something increasingly difficult to do without the political capital behind us. We no longer have the luxury of pushing for federal answers. Our efforts are best focused at the local and state levels, where change remains realistic and the debate is currently happening.

Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GOP softened on abortion in 2024. Trump won because of it | Opinion