Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (SBA) has intensified its voter contact operations in Iowa, targeting the state’s competitive races for governor and U.S. Senate. The organization reported knocking on more than 172,000 doors in the Hawkeye State as part of a strategy to inform voters about candidates’ positions on abortion. The initiative involves a coordinated effort between SBA and its super PAC, Women Speak Out, with a digital spending plan of $650,000 from SBA and $1.35 million from the Women Speak Out PAC.
The operation focuses on supporting Republican candidates, including Iowa Republican Sen. Ashley Hinson, while highlighting the abortion stance of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand. SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated that the scale of the voter contact program is among the largest in the pro-life movement. The group is targeting persuadable voters and those with low historical turnout, aiming to influence the November midterm elections.
What the Left Is Saying
While the source material primarily details the conservative perspective, the Democratic campaign framework generally emphasizes reproductive rights as a settled legal matter and argues that restrictions on abortion disproportionately affect women’s economic stability and healthcare access. Democratic candidates, including Rob Sand, have historically positioned themselves as defenders of bodily autonomy and access to comprehensive healthcare services. The literature distributed by SBA characterizes Sand’s position as supporting painful late term abortions, a framing Democrats typically reject, arguing instead that such procedures are rare and medically necessary. Democratic strategists often contend that focusing on abortion restrictions mobilizes opposition voters and that their platform aligns with the majority of Americans who support legal access to abortion.
What the Right Is Saying
SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated that the group’s goal is to educate voters about what she described as the Democrats’ radical agenda of all-trimester abortion. The organization’s literature labels Rob Sand as wrong for Iowa families and claims he supports painful late term abortions. Conversely, the group promotes Sen. Ashley Hinson as a pro-life champion. SBA field representative Amy Elizabeth noted that conversations with voters, including those who lean liberal, have been effective because many are surprised and shocked by the candidates’ views on abortion. The group argues that driving pro-life Republicans to the polls is critical for the party’s hopes of retaining control of Congress.
What the Numbers Show
SBA reported contacting over 172,000 voters via door-knocking in Iowa. The group’s digital spending plan includes $650,000 from SBA and $1.35 million from the Women Speak Out PAC. Nationwide, SBA projects it will reach 10.5 million voters during this election cycle, with 4 million contacts made in person. A separate polling release cited by the group indicates that one-third of Republicans would be less likely to vote in the midterms if they believe the GOP has abandoned the abortion issue. The operation specifically targets voters in the Des Moines, Davenport, and Cedar Rapids areas, where the group announced surpassing 100,000 home visits in August.
The Bottom Line
The extensive ground game by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America highlights the continued significance of abortion as a mobilizing issue for Republican voters in key battleground states like Iowa. The organization’s data suggests that perceived abandonment of pro-life principles by the GOP could suppress Republican turnout, a factor they are actively trying to mitigate through direct voter contact. As the November elections approach, the effectiveness of this strategy in influencing the outcomes of the gubernatorial and Senate races will depend on whether these conversations successfully convert low-propensity pro-life voters into active participants at the polls.