As Democrats intensify their advertising on reproductive rights, Republicans in competitive House districts are launching a strategic response focused on in vitro fertilization (IVF). Winning for Women, a conservative group advocating for female candidates, has unveiled a nearly $500,000 ad campaign aimed at countering Democratic attacks on the issue. The campaign includes direct mail, text messages, and phone outreach in key battleground districts CA-45 and OR-05, held by Republican Representatives Michelle Steel and Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
The heightened focus on IVF stems from a recent Alabama Supreme Court decision, which classified frozen embryos as children under state law, creating a temporary halt in access until state legislation restored it. Democrats have seized on the issue to criticize Republicans, integrating it into their broader messaging following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
Winning for Women claims this is the “first major issue advocacy campaign by a right-of-center organization in support of IVF” for this election cycle. Danielle Barrow, the group’s executive director, explained that their targeting strategy is based on demographic modeling to reach voters who are most likely to be concerned about IVF access. “We are also looking for opportunities to counter false narratives from the Left and highlight what is actually being done to protect these important treatments,” Barrow said.
In Steel’s district, the campaign mailers emphasize her leadership in supporting IVF access, highlighting her co-sponsorship of H. Res. 1037. This resolution expresses strong support for IVF and affirms that life is precious, although no Democrats have endorsed the legislation.
Similarly, ads in Chavez-DeRemer’s district highlight her efforts to make IVF more affordable and accessible, pointing to her introduction of H.R. 8821, a bill aimed at ensuring coverage for infertility treatments. This bipartisan-supported legislation is currently stalled in committee.
Despite the heightened focus on IVF in these ads, the issue has not prominently featured in television advertisements compared to broader abortion messaging. Nevertheless, the allocation of funds by swing-district Republicans to address IVF suggests that it is becoming a more significant topic in electoral discourse.
In recent campaign ads, Steel shared her personal experience with IVF, stating, “I have always supported women’s access to IVF, and will fight to defend it.” Similarly, Rep. Mike Lawler of NY-17 emphasizes his commitment to protecting IVF access based on his personal struggle with starting a family, while Rep. Marc Molinaro of NY-19 highlights his pioneering support for federal IVF protection among Republicans.
Overall, these efforts reflect a strategic move by Republicans to bolster their position on reproductive rights and address potential voter concerns in critical districts.
Related topics:
