The Feminist Battles We’ll See in 2024—From the Courts to the Ballot Box
Originally published by Kathy Spillar for Ms. Magazine
As 2023 comes to an end, we’re looking forward to the new year, and the feminist battles that lie in store. From Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court to statehouses and ballot boxes across the country, a number of consequential issues will be decided.
Top-of-mind, of course, are the elections. While much of the focus will be on the presidential race—and rightly so, since the outcome could determine the strength of our democracy and the course of women’s equality in the U.S.—we’re keeping a close eye on several other crucial battles.
A number of states—potentially including Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Nevada, Missouri and more—are definitely or likely to take up abortion rights ballot measures, which could either secure or roll back reproductive rights.
Going into these elections, we know that voters overwhelmingly care about abortion and equal rights. A national poll we released earlier this year found that nearly three-quarters of voters support the right to make reproductive decisions without government interference—including about abortion, contraception and continuing a pregnancy. And among voters who support abortion rights, abortion and women’s rights combined are the top issues that will determine their vote in 2024.
The poll underscored the salience of the Equal Rights Amendment as an election issue, with seven in 10 voters supporting the ERA being placed in the Constitution. Candidates should take note of this: The poll also found that talking about abortion and the ERA/women’s rights together is a powerful combination when it comes to mobilizing Democrats and Independents (especially Independent women), younger women, voters who support abortion rights, college-educated women, Latinas and Black voters, and voters ages 30-39.
We’ll also be keeping a close eye on the Supreme Court, which will decide several key cases impacting women’s rights. Next year will see the most consequential ruling on abortion rights since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, in a case challenging the FDA’s regulation of the abortion medication mifepristone. And in U.S. v. Rahimi, the Court will determine whether domestic abusers with protective orders against them continue to be barred from possessing firearms.
As battles for women’s and reproductive rights continue to dominate the ballots and the courts, feminist reporting is going to be more important than ever going into 2024 (as we’ve said, it’s essential to democracy). Thank you for supporting Ms.
Onward towards equality and peace in the new year!