A Midterm Message: The Lesson from Kansas

Daily Action
Written By Barbara Isaacman

Don’t Piss Off Women or They Will Bury You.

QUICK READ:  Last week, Kansans sent a clear message: abortion rights are not up for debate. In the first state referendum on reproductive freedom since Dobbs, we learned a critical lesson. Abortion rights mobilize voters in every state including the deep red. This is the path to a midterm blowout.


CONTENT

BACKGROUND

Kansans rejected a state amendment allowing lawmakers to eliminate abortion protections. Over 900,000 voters turned out, including a slew of new female registrants whose numbers spiked both when Dobbs was leaked and then again when SCOTUS handed down its decision. It was the single biggest turnout for a primary in Kansas’s history.

This vote demonstrates that even in a deep red, pro-Trump state wherein only 25% of registered voters are Democrats, reproductive freedom matters.

Anti-abortion Kansas politicians put “Value Them Both” on the primary ballot with the expectation of low voter turnout in this first state referendum on abortion rights since Dobbs. Nearly 60% of Kansans voted down the amendment.

What does that tell us for November? Abortion rights mobilize voters everywhere.

Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo maintains we can protect Roe by getting a public commitment from every Senate Democrat and candidate to vote for a federal bill in January 2023 and change the filibuster rules to ensure its passage.

The message we must send our representatives: By holding the House and adding two Senators codifying abortion protection at the federal level is achievable.

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am asking you to commit to changing the filibuster in order to codify Roe’s protections in January 2023 by taking the following pledge: “If Democrats hold the House and add two Senators in November, I will vote to pass a law making Roe’s protections the law nationwide and change the filibuster rules to guarantee that bill gets an up or down vote. And I will do that in January 2023.” If you have already committed to this, please speak with your colleagues to bring them around too.

SEN. WYDEN:

Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am asking you to commit to changing the filibuster in order to codify Roe’s protections in January 2023 by taking the following pledge: “If Democrats hold the House and add two Senators in November, I will vote to pass a law making Roe’s protections the law nationwide and change the filibuster rules to guarantee that bill gets an up or down vote. And I will do that in January 2023.” If you have already committed to this, please speak with your colleagues to bring them around too.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

Last week Kansans sent the clear message that, even in a deep red, pro-Trump state where only 25% of registered voters are Democrats, reproductive freedom matters. If you want to keep your job, you need to heed this message and start representing the wishes of your constituents.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

If Democrats can hold the House and add two or more Senators committed to filibuster reform, codifying abortion protection at the federal level is achievable. Between now and November, I need you to repeat this message over and over again.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Last week Kansans sent the clear message that, even in a deep red, pro-Trump state where only 25% of registered voters are Democrats, reproductive freedom matters. If you want to keep your job, you need to heed this message and start representing the wishes of your constituents.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

If Democrats can hold the House and add two or more Senators committed to filibuster reform, codifying abortion protection at the federal level is achievable. Between now and November, I need you to repeat this message over and over again.

Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

If Democrats can hold the House and add two or more Senators committed to filibuster reform, codifying abortion protection at the federal level is achievable. Between now and November, I need you to repeat this message over and over again.

Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

If Democrats can hold the House and add two or more Senators committed to filibuster reform, codifying abortion protection at the federal level is achievable. Between now and November, I need you to repeat this message over and over again.

ACTION THREE: Good Trouble.

GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.” 

FURTHER READING

Barbara Isaacman
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