Kamala Harris calls for ending Senate filibuster to restore rights under Roe v Wade

Harris advocated for changing Senate rules to lower threshold from 60 votes to simple majority for passing legislation

Vice President Kamala Harris has voiced her support for eliminating the Senate filibuster in order to pass federal legislation that would restore the abortion rights once protected under Roe v. Wade.

Speaking in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, Harris advocated for a change in Senate rules that would lower the threshold from 60 votes to a simple majority for passing legislation aimed at reinstating abortion protections.

"I've been very clear. I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom," Harris said.

She emphasized that these protections would ensure every woman’s right to make decisions about her own body without interference from the government.

Harris has long been a proponent of codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law, but this marks her most direct call as a 2024 presidential candidate to reform Senate rules for the sake of advancing reproductive rights legislation.

During President Joe Biden's administration, Harris had also indicated her willingness to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate to eliminate the filibuster for both reproductive rights and voting rights. Biden himself has also supported such an exception for abortion rights.

Abortion has been a central issue in Harris’ presidential campaign, as she has consistently framed Donald Trump as responsible for the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

The ruling ended nearly five decades of federal abortion protections and allowed individual states to implement their own abortion laws, many of which have resulted in near-total bans.

The legal and political fight over abortion has intensified in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision. Harris has regularly highlighted stories from women affected by restrictive state laws, including the case of Amber Rose Thuman, a Georgia woman who died after being denied emergency medical care due to delays caused by the state’s new abortion regulations.

Harris framed these laws as contributing to a healthcare crisis that disproportionately affects women in states with the strictest bans.

Harris' call for ending the filibuster could resonate strongly in key battleground states like Wisconsin, which has been at the center of legal battles over abortion access since Roe was struck down.

Wisconsin's near-total abortion ban, based on a law from the 19th century, went into effect following the Supreme Court’s decision, leading to the suspension of most legal abortions in the state for over a year.

Despite the growing public support for abortion rights, Democrats face significant obstacles in passing federal legislation to restore those protections.

They must first retain their slim majority in the Senate in the upcoming elections. However, if they do, there appears to be growing support within the party for ending the filibuster on this issue.

Senator Bernie Sanders, who has often been skeptical of altering Senate rules, recently stated he would support an exception to the filibuster to pass abortion rights legislation.

Still, the challenge remains formidable. Even with a Senate majority, any attempt to change the filibuster rules would require unified Democratic support.

A handful of moderate senators, including Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have expressed reservations about eliminating the filibuster, even for contentious issues like abortion.

The complexity of Harris' stance has not gone unnoticed. Some progressives and abortion rights activists are pushing for broader protections than those offered by Roe v. Wade, which allowed states to restrict or ban abortion after fetal viability—usually around 24 weeks—except in cases where the life or health of the mother was at risk.

Harris has not yet clarified whether she supports expanding abortion access beyond the limits set by Roe.

Some activists believe abortion should be unrestricted throughout pregnancy and feel the government should have no role in regulating reproductive decisions.

On the campaign trail, Harris has emerged as a more vocal advocate for abortion rights compared to Biden, who, as a devout Catholic, has often been hesitant to openly discuss the issue.

While Biden has defended the right to choose, Harris has been more assertive in addressing the urgency of protecting reproductive rights, especially in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision.

Her campaign has centered around a vision of government that prioritizes women's healthcare and reproductive autonomy.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, has faced growing criticism for his ambiguous position on abortion.

After initially taking credit for appointing the three conservative justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, Trump has recently shifted his tone.

He now emphasizes that the issue of abortion should be left to individual states, a position that has sparked backlash among anti-abortion advocates who are pushing for stricter national restrictions.

Trump recently called Florida’s six-week abortion ban, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, "too harsh," a statement that further deepened divisions within the Republican Party on this issue.

Trump’s inconsistent messaging on abortion has prompted conservative figures like Evangelical theologian Albert Mohler and commentator Erick Erickson to criticize his stance as alienating to pro-life voters.

Furthermore, Trump has come under fire from conservatives alike over an announcement that in a second term he would ensure free in vitro fertilization (IVF) -- an expensive fertility procedure that many in the anti-abortion movement want to see curbed.

In a recent rally in Pennsylvania, Trump downplayed abortion, choosing not to discuss the topic despite its prominence in national debates.

He has instead tried to pivot to other issues, likely recognizing that his evolving stance on reproductive rights may risk alienating part of his conservative base.

At the same time, Trump has attempted to assure voters that his policies, including his decision to return abortion laws to the states, have been beneficial.

As the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, abortion is likely to remain a key issue for voters on both sides. Harris' strong stance in favor of restoring federal abortion protections may help galvanize Democratic voters, particularly in states where abortion access has been restricted or banned.

On the Republican side, Trump's shifting positions may continue to draw scrutiny from within his party as he balances competing pressures from the pro-life movement and more moderate voters.

Harris has positioned herself as a champion for reproductive rights, casting her campaign as a fight to protect the healthcare choices of women across the nation.

With both parties sharply divided on the issue, the future of abortion rights in the U.S. remains a crucial topic as the country moves closer to the 2024 election.