Opinion Today: How could Trump and abortion rights both win?

Not everyone who's pro-choice is necessarily enthusiastic about women's freedom.

View in browser|nytimes.com November 8, 2024 By Lauren Kelley Deputy Op-Ed Editor Women are angry. The overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 activated women across the country who were distressed and disturbed about losing a constitutional right that had protected their health and autonomy. It was not a stretch to imagine that those women (and yes, pro-choice men as well) could make a real difference in this presidential election — the first since Roe's demise — just as they did in the 2022 midterms and in a number of state-level abortion measures over the past couple of years. And in some ways, they did make a difference on Tuesday. A majority of voters in several states where abortion was on the ballot voted to protect or expand abortion access. At the same time, voters across the country decisively selected Donald Trump, who had bragged about how in his first term he was "able to kill Roe v. Wade." How can both of those things be true? As Jill Filipovic writes in a guest essay, there is an explanation: "The positions of these voters are indeed incoherent. But they're also reflective of the new political coalition Mr. Trump has built, and the kind of men and women who back him." Filipovic also points out that Trump's efforts to distance himself from abortion on the campaign trail worked — he talked about the issue as little as possible, and when it did come up, he insisted that he would not roll back abortion access at the federal level. There are good reasons not to believe him, but a lot of voters seemed to buy it. And last, an important reminder from Filipovic: "A vote for abortion rights is not necessarily a vote for female autonomy or political power …. Plenty of voters are willing to check a box if they think that will help keep women safe. But that doesn't mean these voters are enthusiastic about unfettered female freedom — or even willing to put a woman in the White House." 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