Democrat Marilyn Lands secured a state House special in deeply conservative Alabama by placing reproductive rights at the core of her campaign.
Lands, a licensed professional counselor, narrowly lost the 2022 race for the Huntsville-area seat, but she opposes Alabama's near-total ban on abortion and openly shared her own experience of having an abortion over 20 years ago after the fetus tested positive for a rare genetic condition.
Her opponent, Republican Teddy Powell, a two-term councilman, steered clear of discussing abortion rights and instead focused on economic development, infrastructure, and education funding. Powell described himself as “pro-life” but indicated he might consider legislation to include exceptions for rape and incest in Alabama's abortion ban.
With 99% of the vote counted, Lands is leading with 62% to Powell's 37% in a district that voted +1 for Trump in 2020.
Regardless of attempts by the media and Republicans to downplay it, reproductive rights are a highly important issue for voters. Alabama is among the states that implemented a strict abortion ban after Dobbs, and the state supreme court sparked a national controversy by prohibiting IVF.
Reproductive rights are a significant issue. Although Alabama is not a swing state, Democrats have shown that they can win special elections, even in deeply conservative states, when reproductive rights are a focal point.
Republicans are facing a challenge on the issue of reproductive rights, and it will continue to be a factor in November.
