Dems spend heavily on abortion ads in key gubernatorial races

In five key races for governor, Democrats are devoting the largest share of their ads to abortion, seeking to highlight their Republican opponents’ commitment to passing or preserving restrictions after the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. As Democrats hope the issue will drive voter turnout, Republican gubernatorial candidates are leaning into advertising about crime and the economy.

The trend echoes the parties’ divergent pitches to voters in national races, but with added immediacy on the state level, where governors will play a key role in setting abortion policy by signing or vetoing legislation and by launching legal challenges to abortion laws.

A Washington Post analysis of data from AdImpact, which tracks television and digital ad spending, finds that 45 percent of Democratic candidates’ and issue groups’ TV advertising dollars in five states — Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania — has been spent on abortion ads. Those five states feature competitive gubernatorial races and Republican-led legislatures that could continue redefining abortion rights depending on which party wins the governorship.