What’s happening: Democrats are leaning into in vitro fertilization (IVF) as a key campaign issue following a contentious Alabama court decision.
Catch up: Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled that embryos are human beings; destroying them through the IVF process is grounds for wrongful death lawsuits. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey passed a law protecting IVF weeks later.
The trend: An Alabama Democrat won a State House seat Tuesday after campaigning in support of IVF and abortion. Democratic candidates in Florida, Michigan, and Iowa are portraying conservative opposition to IVF as a threat to “reproductive rights.”
In reality: Since the Alabama ruling, Republicans have postured themselves to appear pro-IVF via rhetoric and recent legislation. The GOP’s Senate campaign committee told candidates to defend the procedure in the name of “family values and individual freedom.”
Why it matters: IVF has wide support among Americans on both sides of the aisle. Though many Republicans are signaling support, Democrats are betting that voter skepticism will create a serious electoral problem for the GOP.
Why it’s happening: The left sees abortion and fertility treatment under the same umbrella — reproductive rights. The reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 triggered fears that conservatives will target IVF next.
The pro-life conundrum: IVF commonly results in the destruction or freezing of embryos. The philosophy behind abortion bans — humans have rights from the moment of conception — can be used to argue for also restricting IVF, as Alabama did. This fuels doubt about the GOP’s promise to leave the issue alone.
