With the U.S. presidential election approaching, Iowa implemented a law on the 29th (local time) banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, making abortion rights a major election issue.
According to foreign media including The New York Times (NYT), Iowa began enforcing a law that prohibits abortions from the point when a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
Previously, abortion was legal up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. The NYT explained that now abortions are banned after about six weeks of pregnancy.
The bill was led by the Republican Party. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal-level abortion rights ruling in Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Republican-majority Iowa legislature passed the bill, and Republican Governor Kim Reynolds signed it into law. Governor Reynolds called it a "victory for life."
Foreign media analyzed that the enforcement of this law could be a setback for the Republican Party ahead of the presidential election, as public opinion in the U.S. favors abortion rights over abortion bans. This could cause moderate voters to turn away. In Iowa, where the bill was passed, former President Donald Trump had an advantage in the 2016 and 2020 elections. However, according to a Register-Mediacom poll in March last year, 61% supported legal abortion.
The Democratic Party has made Iowa's abortion ban a campaign issue and launched attacks. The NYT evaluated that "the Democrats are trying to use abortion rights support in Iowa and other states to their advantage in winning votes."
Vice President Kamala Harris released a video statement on the same day, calling Iowa's abortion ban the "Trump abortion ban" and emphasizing, "What we need to do is vote." She pointed out that the Supreme Court became conservative-leaning due to three justices appointed by former President Trump during his term, leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Harris's campaign announced that it would start a "Week of Action for Reproductive Freedom" in key battleground states, using the enforcement of Iowa's law as a catalyst.
U.S. CNN analyzed, "The fastest way for Vice President Harris to boost her approval ratings may be to solidify support among voters who agree with her on abortion issues." Harris has played the role of a Trump critic on abortion rights issues in the Biden administration. As a devout Catholic, she criticizes the overturning of Roe v. Wade, contrasting with President Biden, who has been reluctant to mention the word "abortion."
Former President Trump has not pledged a federal ban on abortion and has stated that each state should decide according to the Supreme Court's ruling. However, Republican vice-presidential candidate Senator J.D. Vance has made past ultra-hardline remarks, such as saying abortion is never justified even in cases of rape, prompting the Democratic Party to intensify its offensive.
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