New polling data indicates that abortion rights may be losing its position as a top-tier issue for Democratic voters in the United States as attention shifts towards the 2026 midterm elections. This marks a potential strategic shift after the party heavily centred its campaigns on the issue following the landmark overturning of Roe v Wade.
Polling Reveals a Sharp Decline in Democratic Voter Focus
According to research from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), the proportion of Democrats who said abortion was important to their vote plummeted from 55% in 2024 to just 36% in October 2025. In a contrasting trend, the issue's importance for Republican voters remained largely unchanged over the same period.
This decline is echoed in a separate September poll from the 19th and SurveyMonkey, which found the voters most energised by abortion are now those seeking to ban it. Melissa Deckman, CEO of PRRI, suggests the constant tumult of the current administration has redirected national attention. "It's just hard to catch your breath," she said, noting that affordability, the economy, and the state of democracy have superseded abortion as primary concerns for many, particularly Democrats.
From Campaign Cornerstone to Questionable Asset
The 2024 election saw Democrats invest massively in abortion rights messaging, with Kamala Harris making it a centrepiece of her presidential bid and party groups spending a staggering $175 million on related TV ads. This strategy was a direct response to the wave of state-level bans triggered by the Supreme Court's decision.
However, the issue's perceived power was overstated in the 2024 electoral outcome, which resulted in a popular vote win for Donald Trump and Republican control of Congress. Notably, Trump won four states that simultaneously voted to add abortion rights protections to their constitutions, revealing a complex voter calculus where support for a ballot measure did not automatically translate to support for Democratic candidates.
State Battles Continue Amid National Ambivalence
Despite the shifting national priorities, abortion remains a galvanising force in state-level contests. Advocacy groups are currently gathering signatures to place abortion measures on the 2025 ballots in Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, and Virginia. Nevada and Missouri have already confirmed abortion-related measures will appear.
The practical impact of these measures can be uncertain, as seen in Missouri. Voters there approved a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights in 2024, but a protracted legal battle has blocked clinics from actually providing the procedure. Voters will now be asked in 2026 whether to repeal the measure they passed just two years prior.
This volatility has had a tangible effect on support networks. Alisha Dingus, executive director of the DC Abortion Fund, reported a precipitous drop in donations during 2025, as post-Roe rage subsided and economic pressures mounted. The fund, which provides financial assistance for abortion access, now gives out roughly $3,800 weekly but faces an uncertain financial future. "What I see is going off the cliff in 2026," Dingus warned.
While data shows US abortions have increased in recent years, largely due to access to pills online, advocates fear resources for those needing to travel for care are drying up. The challenge for Democrats and rights groups is to reframe the conversation, moving beyond a reactive message to one that consistently highlights ongoing threats to access.
