The decision to invest such a substantial amount was shared with The Associated Press by the political and advocacy branches of the leading reproductive healthcare provider and pro-abortion rights organization ahead of its official release on Monday.
Initially, Planned Parenthood will concentrate its efforts on eight states, including Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, aiming to uphold Biden’s 2020 victories. In addition, they will target North Carolina, a state that Biden aims to turn blue after Trump’s win in the previous election, as well as Montana, New Hampshire, and New York, where races could influence control of the Senate and House.
The strategies employed will involve volunteer and paid canvassing programs, phone banking, and utilization of digital, TV, and mail advertising to reach out to voters.
Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes, emphasized that abortion will be a focal point of this election, serving as a catalyst to engage voters and secure victories.
This spending plan does not set a new record for Planned Parenthood during an election cycle. In previous instances, the organization allocated $45 million before Biden’s triumph over Trump in 2020 and $50 million before the 2022 midterms.
The aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case that established abortion rights in 1973, has driven significant changes around the abortion debate. Post-decision, states under Republican control have imposed stricter abortion regulations, including bans at various pregnancy stages.
Conversely, voters in seven states, such as California, Michigan, and Vermont, along with traditionally Republican states like Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, and Ohio, have taken stances favoring abortion rights through ballot measures.
Furthermore, upcoming abortion referendums will be held in various states, including battlegrounds like Arizona, Nevada, and Florida, with hopes of impacting voter turnout and election outcomes.
Apart from their national campaign, local Planned Parenthood advocacy groups in several states are preparing their initiatives leading up to November. These efforts will not only focus on ballot initiatives but also support broader infrastructures facilitating abortion access.
