Planned Parenthood launched its $50 million campaign for abortion issues in the lead-up to this year’s midterm elections.
The Supreme Court’s June 24 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade prompted a number of states to introduce ballot initiatives that will allow voters to determine the status of abortion.
The reproductive health care and abortion provider will focus on initiatives in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin with the goal of reaching 6 million voters.
“Who wins in these midterm elections will determine whether a state has access to abortion and potentially determine whether we will face a national abortion ban,” said Planned Parenthood Votes’ executive director Jenny Lawson in a statement on Aug. 17. “We will be clear about who is on which side.”
“When people go to vote this November, nearly half of the folks voting could be living in a state that either has already banned abortion or is quickly moving to ban abortion,” Lawson said. “There are a lot of issues people care about, certainly, but the state of abortion access is absolutely one of the defining issues this November.”
The organization’s “Take Control” electoral program includes door-to-door canvassing efforts, digital advertising, radio ads, and a direct mail campaign. Accordingly, Planned Parenthood’s National Volunteer Program is scheduled to begin on Aug. 18 with a virtual kick-off.
On the “Take Control” website, Planned Parenthood Action warns that the Supreme Court’s decision equates to “handing our power, and our very ability to control our own bodies, to politicians.”
The organization says abortion bans are a result of America’s systemic racism and disproportionately harm Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities and warns that “Medicaid, birth control, LGBTQ+ rights, and even democracy itself” are also being attacked by lawmakers.
“Together, we need to take control — by electing leaders at all levels of government who will protect our right to make our own health care decisions,” says Planned Parenthood Action.
The organization has endorsed senate and congressional candidates in over 40 states, including Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama, Congressman Jim Costa of California, Congressman Adam Schiff of California, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and Congresswoman Rashida Talib of Michigan.
During the 2020 election, Planned Parenthood spent $45 million dollars on promoting abortion access and health care issues.
The organization’s last available annual report indicates that Planned Parenthood had $1.6 billion in revenue between 2019 and 2020. Approximately $618 million came from government health services reimbursement and grants while $510 million came from private donations and bequests.
“Our broad base of committed donors provide[s] approximately 93.7% of the national organization’s revenue and 25.4% of affiliate revenue — evidence of our powerful grassroots support,” Planned Parenthood said in the report
The report also indicated the organization spent $55.4 million on public policy, $50.5 million on research, $118.6 million on fundraising, and $245.6 million on management and general support services. During the same time frame, the organization reported spending $965.5 million on medical services.
