Campaign Managers From Critical Reproductive Rights Campaigns, Nation’s Leading Backer of Abortion Ballot Measures Brief Media on Latest From Frontlines Just 20 Days From General Election
WASHINGTON – A solid majority of voters, regardless of party affiliation or ideology, believe that access to abortion care is a right – one that the government has no business obstructing. That’s what members of the press heard today from state ballot measure campaign managers, who joined Kelly Hall of the Fairness Project for a media briefing that drew attendees from across the country.
At today’s live event, panelists shared three key takeaways: Republican, Republican-leaning, and Independent voters are more than reachable on the issue of abortion; personal storytelling from trusted sources can be leveraged for effective advertising and canvassing strategy; and voter enthusiasm is sky high, even in red and purple states going into the General Election.
“Abortion-related ballot measures are on the ballot in an unprecedented ten states this fall,” said Kelly Hall of the Fairness Project, whose organization has committed more than $30 million to support abortion ballot campaigns across the country this year, including Florida, Arizona, and Missouri, and has won 30+ progressive ballot campaigns in primarily red and purple states since its founding. “What these ballot measures are about is small-d democracy: putting the power to make decisions about fundamental rights straight into the hands of voters,” she continued. “In state after state, voters are coming to the same conclusion: that decisions about abortion should be between them and their doctor, and not left to politicians or the courts.”
Rachel Sweet, Campaign Manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, echoed Hall’s remarks on reaching voters across the ideological spectrum. “Even in Missouri, which now is a solidly red state, voters want the power to make decisions about their own lives and health care – and they don’t respond well to politicians taking away their personal freedoms.” Sweet continued, “Our campaign is connecting with voters across the political spectrum by uniting around shared values, such as personal freedom and care for our neighbors. While not all Missourians agree on abortion, we broadly agree that Missouri’s ban goes too far and that we need to keep politicians out of our personal medical decisions.”
To learn how this experience of communicating with voters across partisan divides informed advertising and canvassing strategy, attendees heard from Lauren Brenzel, Campaign Manager for Yes on 4 Florida. “It’s really two things,” Brenzel began. “It’s about the messenger and the message, because the message has to resonate with the voters, and those same voters need to be able to trust the messenger.” She continued, “That’s why staying away from messaging that tends to highlight partisanship is crucial. Instead, we’ve begun harnessing the power of first person storytelling and relying on the voices of doctors, nurses, and everyday people who’ve been impacted by draconian abortion bans to make sure our message is heard.”
Underlining just how well these strategies are playing out on the ground, Laura Dent, Campaign Manager for Arizonans for Abortion Access, spoke to the enthusiasm from voters that her team is seeing on the ground in her critical battleground state. “All around the state, voters are motivated to cast their ballots and reclaim their personal freedoms,” Dent told the assembled reporters. “Whether we’re in Phoenix, the suburbs, or rural Arizona, the general feeling is the same: voters want to send a decisive message this election that abortion bans cross the line.”
A recording of the briefing is available here.