Here & Now

The Significance of Abortion in Wisconsin's 2022 Election

Protesters:

When abortion rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!

Zac Schultz:

When the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade, they overturned the constitutional right for women to seek an abortion. But they also overturned decades of conventional wisdom on just how much the issue of abortion can impact an election.

[chanting]

Amaya Barker:

It was kind of this crazy, like, jaw-dropping moment of, like, oh, my God, they did it.

Zac Schultz:

Amaya Barker is a volunteer for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, the organizing arm of Planned Parenthood. She says there was an immediate surge in the number of people looking to get involved.

Amaya Barker:

I’ve just seen a lot more people being like, wow, I actually have to do something now about this. Sarah Berndsen signed up, and her first event was the Bayview Bash in Milwaukee, where the point was to remind people Planned Parenthood was still open providing healthcare services, just not abortions.

Sarah Berndsen:

It’s been a really positive reaction. We have had people coming up really appreciative that we’re out here providing information.

Zac Schultz:

While their stand didn’t advocate for any political candidates, the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County was next door and abortion rights were front and center.

Ben Wikler:

Many, many voters, especially women across the state, it has been something that has galvanized a level of kind of political outrage and commitment to change that will reshape this election this fall.

Zac Schultz:

Ben Wikler is the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He thinks abortion will swing votes everywhere, not just Milwaukee and Madison.

Ben Wikler:

If you knock on doors in rural Wisconsin, in suburbs, in cities alike, there are people even who voted Republican before who think this is much too far.

Jessa Michie:

I was very shocked by the, just the sheer response that people had in this area.

Zac Schultz:

Jessa Michie is a digital organizer for Planned Parenthood Advocates based in Stevens Point in central Wisconsin. She says they were overwhelmed at first by the number of people looking to volunteer.

Jessa Michie:

A lot of people who haven’t done this before, this really activated a lot of folks who were brand new to it.

Zac Schultz:

The focus now is translating that energy into turnout.

Jessa Michie:

We’re very, very focused on voting. Getting out the vote is the most important thing that we can do at this point in Wisconsin.

Gracie Skogman:

These are our materials. And as you can see, this is focusing on our congressional candidates.

Zac Schultz:

Planned Parenthood Advocates isn’t the only group talking about abortion with voters. Gracie Skogman is a legislative director for Wisconsin Right to Life.

Gracie Skogman:

The goal is that we can go to any voter, regardless of where they stand, and give them something that we hope ultimately will encourage them to support pro-life candidates. Hi, how are you?

Man:

Good, how are you?

Gracie Skogman:

Good to see you.

Zac Schultz:

Skogman says the case that overturned Roe, Dobbs vs Jackson, was a victory but not the end of the debate.

Gracie Skogman:

We’ve seen that people, of course, are rejoicing and happy, but then they think that it’s time to go home and stop talking about this. But it’s more important now than ever before.

Zac Schultz:

She says it can be a delicate conversation.

Gracie Skogman:

I went earlier this week and people were…

Woman:

Not so receptive?

Gracie Skogman:

Not so receptive. We know that this is a very emotional and polarizing issue, right, on both sides of the aisle.

Zac Schultz:

Wisconsin Right to Life would like to shift the conversation to what comes next. Specifically, whether a Republican governor and legislature will provide state funding to pregnancy resource centers. The non-profits that often open up across the street from abortion clinics and counsel pregnant women away from abortion.

Gracie Skogman:

I think our best way to move forward is on the unifying issue of pregnancy resource centers, having conversations about paid family leave. These are bipartisan issues.

Zac Schultz:

Jessa Michie says voters aren’t quite ready to move on.

Jessa Michie:

I definitely think that people still have more to say and a lot more feelings about losing that access to care. I don’t think that folks are ready to move on at all. I think that they’re more angry about this and more energized than they were before.

TV announcer:

He said it’s “not unreasonable for the state government to mandate rape victims to give birth.”

Zac Schultz:

Democratic Governor Tony Evers is hoping to capitalize on that energy. He’s been running ads hitting his opponent, Republican Tim Michels, on abortion.

Woman:

Tim Michels is way too radical for Wisconsin.

Tony Evers:

Do I think it’s an important issue in the race? Yes. Look at where my opponent is on this and on that issue. So do I think it’s going to be a factor? Yes, absolutely.

Paul Farrow:

Almost every single attack that’s out there on Republican candidates has to do with Dobbs.

Zac Schultz:

Paul Farrow is the chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. He says the Evers’ ads are over the top.

Paul Farrow:

I think our conversation of making sure the health of the woman and health of the child is just as important, is kind of tampering down what the left is saying that we’re trying to criminalize women left and right.

Tim Michels:

Governor Evers and the left have spent tens of millions of dollars mischaracterizing my position, calling me a radical. I am pro-life and I make no apologies for that. But I’ll tell you who the real radical is. The real radical is Governor Evers.

Zac Schultz:

Tim Michels did not agree to an interview for this story but has had trouble being consistent in his position on abortion. Without the protection of Roe v. Wade, Wisconsin reverted back to an 1849 law on abortion that only provides exceptions if two doctors feel it is needed to save the life of the mother. Michels originally campaigned on his support for that law but has since said he would support a bill that provides exceptions for rape and incest.

Tim Michels:

I’ve said if a bill is put before me from the legislature, which is a direct representation of the people, and it has an exception in it for rape and incest, that I would sign that bill.

Zac Schultz:

A few days later, Michels added another change.

Tim Michels:

I will never arrest a doctor, as they’re saying. I’m a reasonable guy.

Zac Schultz:

However, under the 1849 law, doctors providing an abortion can be arrested, and his campaign had to clarify that Michels just wouldn’t be the one doing the arresting. Saying, the district attorneys should enforce all laws. The governor is an executive. He’s not a DA or beat cop arresting anyone. Evers doesn’t buy it.

Tony Evers:

There’s no way I believe it and no way people in Wisconsin believe you can have this hard core, something that’s part of your insides position that rape or incest is not something that you should exclude from this law. Never. This is important for me because of my convictions. And then all of a sudden, the next day you say, well, I guess I don’t have any convictions.

Zac Schultz:

Michie says Michels is muddying the water.

Jessa Michie:

That’s the intention, I think, in a lot of cases is to just sort of muddle the issue and confuse people.

Zac Schultz:

However, Gracie Skogman is clear on where Wisconsin Right to Life stands.

Gracie Skogman:

Our position is we are not in favor of adding a rape and incest exception.

Man:

My only concern is, let’s say there’s a rape case.

Zac Schultz:

Even if their voters at the doors have a different opinion. Reporting from Madison, I’m Zac Schultz, for “Here & Now.”