Cheers erupt in the hall when Stacey Abrams takes the stage. At a Democrat fundraising event in Atlanta, the gubernatorial candidate is the beacon of hope. She promises to fight for abortion freedom.
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Stacey Abrams is running for governor of Georgia. She fights for higher voter turnout, but also for freedom from abortion.
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Abortion is banned in Georgia after the sixth week of pregnancy. It has been in effect since the Supreme Court ruled this summer that overturned federally guaranteed abortion rights. A shock for many liberal women. But the anger about it could help the Democrats in the midterm elections, many at the event are convinced of that.
People underestimated how angry women are about this decision.
“A lot of people go to vote who don’t otherwise see the point in it,” said Saira Draper, candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives. Shea Roberts, Member of the Georgia House of Representatives, published her personal abortion in a conservative medium in order to appeal to Republicans as well. The fetus was not viable and the pregnancy was risky for her.
“I have to admit, I got some angry letters. But some Republicans also came forward and said they were considering voting for the Democrats for the first time.” And Caroline Ahmann is full of confidence for the midterm elections: “I think we can win the midterm elections. People underestimated how angry women are about this decision, and many have registered to vote.”
Great effort by volunteers
Caroline Ahmann is one of countless Democratic volunteers. We meet her the day after in her kitchen in a quaint southern home.
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Caroline Ahmann and her colleague bundle flyers. They are determined to fight for votes until the November 8th election.
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With a colleague, she prepares boxes full of leaflets. Some flyers have a QR code printed on them that you can use to register directly to vote. They deposit these flyers at various locations in the city. You can’t vote in Georgia without first registering.
They distribute the other flyers at front doors. It says the Republican policy of banning abortion endangers women’s health. Democrats use databases to target people who are Democrats, swing voters, or independents. The goal: to bring them to the polls.
“We have addresses and distribute flyers at their houses. But we also have phone numbers. We’re going to call each and every one, over 2000 people, and ask how they want to vote – and if they have a choice of transportation. If not, then the little bus in front of my house will be very busy because we will drive it,” explains Ahmann. Her determination is written all over her face.
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Loren Walter (left) and Madysen Forney are politically active. Under the hashtag #myfirstvote they tell how they voted for the first time. This should also motivate others to vote.
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Loren Walter and Madysen Forney from the non-partisan organization Ignite also want to get more people to the polls – namely the young, an age group with an often low turnout.
Abortion freedom as a spark
They reach their age group with a campaign on social media, but also at the universities, where they address students. The abortion-free issue sparked a desire to run in the elections. “The abortion issue is a driving factor for young people to get involved and engage in conversation. They think, ok, that affects me, what are we doing, »says Loren Walter.
“Especially women my age are super angry,” adds Madysen Forney. “It is important that women of all ages, races, colors can choose what they want and have rights that are important to them. And that they can make decisions about their bodies.”
Crucial Suburbs
Elections are being held in the Atlanta suburbs. Thanks to Georgia, Joe Biden is President. Thanks to Georgia, Democrats have a majority in the Senate. The state has become one of the most hotly contested swing states since Democrats won here for the first time in decades in 2020.
Abortion is an emotional issue that gives a mobilizing boost to the midterm election campaign. For the Democrats it is a glimmer of hope, since experience has shown that the ruling party is often punished and loses in the midterm elections.
But Republicans are also fighting for votes. We meet Sandy Donatucci, candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives in Gwinnett County, a suburb of Georgia. She rings a doorbell. The Republican also specifically targets conservative or independent voters in order to get them to the polls.
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Sandy Donatucci says the most important issues for people are inflation, crime, schools. The Republican does not address the issue of abortion.
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She doesn’t address abortion, which was a key Conservative campaign issue before the ruling, but rather other issues that people are concerned about. “One problem is inflation. I recently walked out of the store with three half-empty bags for $150,” she says, starting the conversation. Then she talks about high crime and school politics. The local resident nods, the conservative policy corresponds to him.
We confront Donatucci with the fact that many women are angry about Georgia’s abortion ban, which was introduced by the Republicans. But the Republican put it into perspective. “For most of the people I speak to, it doesn’t seem to be a big issue. Whenever it comes up, I say it’s not just about the mother, it’s about the baby. There’s adoption, that’s our direction.”
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The Georgia suburbs are contested in the elections. Both parties knock on doors here to motivate voters to go to the polls for them.
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Sammy Baker, president of the Gwinnett County Republicans, acknowledges that Republicans could lose some middle or boy votes. “But there are also many women who are strictly against abortions. It goes both ways. And we don’t have the impression that abortion is the most important issue for people, but that inflation is.” The Republicans are focusing the election campaign on President Biden and the Democrats being responsible for the high inflation.
Shape personal experiences
We talk to a lot of people in a pretty park in the suburb of East Cobb. In fact, inflation concerns everyone. But not everyone blames President Biden for this. The abortion ban also concerns many here. Like Mary Paris, mother and grandmother, retired nurse. She has decided to volunteer for the Democrats and knock on doors as well. She hopes the issue of abortion will get many young people to vote.
At the very end of a long conversation, she tells her personal story. Her son was born with the most severe deformities in a time before there were ultrasounds. “For the week he survived, he was hooked up to countless tubes. If I had known that there was no chance of survival, that this guy was suffering so much, of course I would have had the abortion to spare him the suffering. I just want every woman to be able to make that decision for herself.”
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Mary Paris campaigns for the Democrats. She wants to help young women have access to abortion.
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The abortion issue affects many women, and that can be clearly felt in Georgia. But the Republicans also have good campaign arguments with the economic situation. In fact, maintaining a majority in Congress and winning the election will be difficult for the Democrats. To do this, they would have to bring their entire base and also many independents to the polls.