Will he overcome them?
President Joe Biden has vowed to reverse the changes made by the Trump administration regarding abortion rights and restore the protections provided by Roe v. Wade if he is re-elected. However, achieving this goal would require overcoming various challenges, including winning the 2024 election and securing Democratic control of Congress. Biden acknowledges that restoring Roe v. Wade depends on having a supportive Congress, which highlights the importance of electoral outcomes in shaping abortion legislation.
Even if Democrats were to win the White House and Congress, they would still face obstacles in the Senate, where they would need either a supermajority or majority support to pass abortion-related legislation. Legal challenges are also anticipated if Biden signs abortion protections into law, particularly regarding the constitutionality of Congress guaranteeing access to abortion. Despite these challenges, the Biden administration could explore alternative avenues, such as executive actions through departments like Health and Human Services and Justice.
As the campaign progresses, Biden has increasingly emphasized abortion rights as a central issue in his re-election campaign. In contrast, former President Trump has expressed support for states’ rights to legislate reproductive rights without providing clear guidance on how he would address a federal abortion ban if re-elected. Biden’s campaign sees abortion as a mobilizing issue that could drive voter turnout in favor of the Democratic ticket, with figures like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer highlighting the nationwide implications of potential abortion restrictions.
The debate over abortion rights is expected to continue shaping the political landscape, with both parties positioning themselves on opposite sides of the issue. The outcome of the 2024 election will play a crucial role in determining the future trajectory of abortion legislation in the United States.
