Over 1 million abortions were performed in the U.S. in 2023 — a 10% rise since 2020 and the largest number in over a decade.
States bordering those that have banned abortion showed the steepest rises in the number of abortions: Virginia over 76%, Illinois over 72%, New Mexico over 257%. Last year, 160,000 women crossed state borders to have abortions (twice the number in 2020).
And in states with abortion-supporting laws, there has been a big increase in the number of abortions: California over 21,460; New York over 20,460.
This unpredicted growth in pregnancy terminations may herald a big cut in the anti-abortion reaction to recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Once women see that the high court decisions and former President Donald Trump's policies have not cut off access to abortion, they are a lot less likely to focus on the issue in the 2024 elections.
Rather, a consensus may (and should) develop that the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Orgnization 597 U.S. 215 (2022) is stimulating federalism to work better in providing choices for women.
The left will find it harder to fearmonger the issue as voters see that abortion access remains largely unimpaired.
Increasingly, women are turning to "bus ticket abortions" to travel to states that permit the procedure with few restrictions.
This trend is ironically good for anti-abortion Republicans even as it runs counter to their issue views. More abortions equal less pro-choice hysteria, which equals more Trump votes.
Dick Morris is a former presidential adviser and political strategist. He is a regular contributor to Newsmax TV. Read Dick Morris' Reports — More Here.