IVF in US Politics: Republican Candidates Navigate Stance Amidst Alabama Ruling

The recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that determined in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos are children, “regardless of their location,” has sparked a new debate in the ongoing conversation about abortion access rights in the United States. This development has significant implications for the political landscape, particularly for Republicans aiming to take control of the U.S. Senate. In response, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has advised candidates to express their support for IVF and reject efforts by the government to restrict it.

The NRSC memo, released on February 23, 2024, urges candidates to “clearly and concisely reject efforts by the government to restrict IVF.” The memo emphasizes the importance of aligning with the public’s overwhelming support for IVF and fertility treatments. The political stakes are high, as the Alabama ruling has thrust fertility treatments into the abortion debate, which has proven to be a powerful force for voters in elections since the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

The consequences of the Dobbs decision for women who want to have children but are having trouble conceiving have put a spotlight on the issue. At least three fertility clinics in Alabama have paused IVF treatments, leaving patients in limbo. The political implications of this situation are significant, as former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, has urged Alabama lawmakers to find a solution. Trump has touted his role in overturning Roe by appointing Supreme Court justices who were opposed to abortion rights.

The issue was soon raised on the campaign trail, with Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley expressing her belief that embryos are babies but later clarifying her position. She insisted that she never agreed with the Alabama court’s decision and instead called for a solution that promotes opportunities and availability for fertility treatments.

The NRSC memo cites polling from former top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, which shows 85% of respondents support access to fertility-related procedures, including broad support from “pro-life advocates” and evangelicals. The polling also found 80% support for IVF and other fertility treatments in military healthcare benefits. Furthermore, 85% of respondents said they would back candidates who prioritize increasing the availability of contraceptives and fertility-related treatments.

On February 23, 2024, Senate hopefuls Tim Sheehy of Montana, Kari Lake of Arizona, and Bernie Moreno of Ohio all expressed their support for IVF. Lake opposes IVF restrictions and will fight against them if elected. Moreno, in favor of anything that promotes people having more babies and strong families, supports IVF.

However, Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown criticized Moreno and other Republican candidates who opposed the statewide ballot initiative to enshrine abortion rights but now express support for IVF treatments. Other Democrats have pointed to GOP support for legislation that defines “personhood” as beginning at fertilization, which negates their professed support for IVF.

Despite their expressed support for IVF, many Republicans have not indicated whether they agree with the Alabama justices who determined IVF embryos are considered children. This leaves in question what should be done with embryos that are not used.

The Biden campaign has placed the blame on Trump for the Alabama decision, stating that “Now his name is on every single attack on reproductive health care—from abortion bans to assaults on contraception and stopping IVF treatments—across the country.”

Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson told CBS News that the way in which restrictive abortion bans have put reproductive procedures like IVF at risk will only further engage voters. “That’s essentially what all of these bans are about,” McGill Johnson said. “This IVF decision will wake up yet another constituency of folks who will be very alarmed about…the state overreach here.”

In conclusion, the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling on IVF embryos has added a new dimension to the ongoing debate about abortion access rights in the United States. The political implications of this development are significant, particularly for Republicans aiming to take control of the U.S. Senate. The NRSC’s advice for candidates to express their support for IVF and reject efforts to restrict it underscores the importance of this issue in the political landscape. The consequences of the Dobbs decision for women who want to have children but are having trouble conceiving have put a spotlight on the issue, and the polling data suggests that support for IVF is broad and bipartisan. The political stakes are high, and the issue is likely to remain a significant factor in the upcoming elections.