SBA Pro-Life America, one of the country's largest anti-abortion advocacy groups, is urging Republican candidates to make late-term abortion a central campaign issue in this year's midterm elections, according to a strategy memo exclusively obtained by The Daily Wire.
The memo, dated late August and written by SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser, argues that Republicans can gain electoral ground by forcing Democratic opponents to defend their support for abortions performed later in pregnancy. Massachusetts recently became the 12th state to allow abortions at any point during pregnancy, even when both mother and baby are healthy.
What the Right Is Saying
SBA Pro-Life America argues its message testing shows clear electoral benefits from highlighting Democratic positions on late-term abortion. 'Every top-performing message highlights the Democratic candidate's support for late-term elective abortion,' Dannenfelser wrote in the memo to Republican candidates.
The group commissioned Evolving Strategies to conduct randomized controlled trial polling in Iowa, testing three different abortion messages in Senate and gubernatorial races. The 'attack' message emphasizing Democrat support for late-term abortions of viable, pain-capable babies was most effective. SBA's memo states that messaging about late-term abortion moved the Republican vote margin by 3.3 points for governor and 4.4 points for Senate.
What the Left Is Saying
EMILY's List President Jessica Mackler said voters are rejecting Republican positions on abortion access. 'Voters are fed up with Republicans treating their bodies and lives as political pawns, and the backlash is growing,' Mackler said in a recent statement. She argued that the GOP's stance drove Democratic victories across the ballot in recent cycles.
Pro-abortion groups contend that framing the debate around late-term procedures misrepresents how abortions actually occur. Medical experts note that later-term abortions are overwhelmingly sought in cases of severe fetal abnormalities or threats to the mother's health, not for elective reasons. Democrat strategists have advised candidates to avoid getting drawn into granular policy debates and instead focus on protecting existing access.
What the Numbers Show
SBA Pro-Life America cited specific polling data from its Iowa testing: The 'attack' message shifted Republican margins by 3.3 percentage points in the gubernatorial race and 4.4 points in the Senate contest. When combined with messaging about pain-capable fetuses, voter movement ranged between 5.3 and 6.6 points.
The memo drew a direct electoral comparison: 'In 2024, a shift of four points for Republicans would have meant a 57-seat majority in the Senate.' The group also noted testing among Hispanic Texans showed its top message moved voters 3.7 points in House races and 6.6 points in Senate contests.
Massachusetts is now one of 12 states allowing abortions at any point during pregnancy, a policy SBA's memo characterizes as legal in just seven countries globally. According to the Guttmacher Institute, approximately 93 percent of abortions occur in the first trimester, with less than 1 percent performed after 21 weeks.
The Bottom Line
The memo represents a strategic pivot for Republicans, who have struggled to find consistent messaging on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. President Donald Trump has largely avoided the issue publicly, while some Republican lawmakers have continued engaging, including clashing with the administration over abortion drugs.
SBA Pro-Life America argues that forcing Democrats to defend late-term positions could be decisive in close races. The group contends that even 'moderate' Democrats like David Crowley and Sherrod Brown support abortion access in the fifth month of pregnancy or later. Whether this messaging strategy proves effective will likely depend on whether persuadable voters engage with the distinction between early and late-term procedures, and how Democratic campaigns respond.