The upcoming Texas Supreme Court races have become a focal point for Democrats looking to influence the state’s abortion laws. There are three Republican incumbents – justices Jimmy Blacklock, John Devine, and Jane Bland – who are facing heat from Democrats. A political action committee (PAC) has been created by Democrats to unseat these justices, linking their rulings on abortion to stories of women who claim they were harmed by the new laws.
The state Supreme Court in Texas has been dominated by Republicans for over two decades, but Democrats see an opportunity to potentially shift the balance by electing even one dissenting voice. However, political science experts like Todd Curry believe that a Democrat on the Texas Supreme Court may still be a few years away.
The Find Out PAC, led by Gina Ortiz Jones, aims to educate voters on the impact of the Supreme Court’s decisions on abortion access. While polling shows that many Texas voters are unhappy with the strict abortion laws in the state, a significant portion are not aware of the role of the Texas Supreme Court in shaping these laws. However, when voters are presented with stories of women affected by the abortion bans, they become more motivated to vote, potentially shifting the outcome of the races.
The PAC’s strategy includes airing ads featuring women who were denied medical care due to abortion bans and framing the races as an opportunity for voters to protect abortion access. With Texas lacking a mechanism for voters to directly influence abortion laws through ballot measures, the Supreme Court races serve as a way for voters to hold justices accountable for their decisions.
Justices like Jane Bland, who authored opinions upholding the state’s abortion laws, and John Devine, a longtime anti-abortion advocate, are being targeted by Democrats for their stances on abortion. Challengers like Bonnie Lee Goldstein and DaSean Jones are emphasizing the importance of defending constitutional rights and challenging the conservative views of the incumbents.
While the prospect of shifting the Texas Supreme Court to a Democratic majority may be challenging in the short term, Democrats are looking towards the future and the potential impact of even one dissenting voice on the bench. Campaigning on specific issues in judicial races can be complex, but Democrats are hopeful that their efforts to educate voters on the court’s role in shaping abortion laws will resonate with Texans who support broader abortion access.