US President Joe Biden heads to Florida on Tuesday, aiming to make strides in the conservative-leaning state with his advocacy for abortion rights.
Despite being won by Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections and governed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has been a tough battleground for Democrats for nearly ten years.
However, with the recent Supreme Court decision under Trump’s administration rolling back federal abortion rights, voters across the political spectrum have become increasingly vocal on this issue, even in traditionally Republican states.
Biden’s Florida Visit: A Push for Abortion Rights in a Conservative Area
On Tuesday, while Trump faces his hush money trial in New York, Biden heads to Florida to advocate for abortion rights. Florida recently upheld a ban on abortion after six weeks, but voters will have a chance to overturn it in November with a ballot measure.
Since the Supreme Court returned abortion rights to states, 21 have restricted abortion, yet voters consistently support abortion rights measures.
Biden, a lifelong Catholic, opposes Trump’s stance on abortion, which led to the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Trump, though less aligned with religion, has touted his role in this decision.
Despite his claims of support for states’ decisions on abortion, Democrats remain skeptical, accusing Trump of continuing his assault on reproductive rights.
While abortion rights measures have succeeded in conservative states, it’s uncertain if they’ll sway votes for Biden. In 2016, a ballot measure to raise the minimum wage, a Democratic priority, passed alongside Trump’s victory in Florida.
