All other May news was eclipsed by the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion signaling the end of Roe v. Wade, so this month’s Insider is bringing you full coverage of the opinion, abortion rights, and what effect this will have on campaigns going forward. Scroll past the special coverage for the rest of the month’s news links, including primary results and coverage of last week’s brutal shooting.

Top News & Resources

If you have not yet read the draft opinion, it and Politico’s analysis are required reading for every person concerned with protecting abortion rights. The opinion is often creepily detached from the humanity of pregnancy, birth, adoption and parenting, referring at one point to the shrinking “domestic supply of [adoptable] infants” as a problem in need of solving. And underpinning the entire thing is a clear takedown of the fundamental right to privacy, which threatens marriage rights and birth control access. The opinion makes clear that abortion is now the next big fight in what is a hostile takeover of a center- to left-leaning majority by the radical right:

• 61 percent of Americans support keeping abortion legal in most cases [Pew];
• 26 states will or are likely to ban abortion when Roe falls [Guttmacher];
• 58 percent of American women live in those states [Guttmacher];

Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows What the SCOTUS leak could mean for abortion [Podcast, Strict Scrutiny] Abortion [Full coverage from The 19th News] Roe v. Wade in Peril: Our Latest Resources [Data from the Guttmacher Institute] The Fall of Roe Resource Guide [From the LA Women’s Collective] America’s Abortion Quandary [Pew statistics] How U.S. abortion laws went from nonexistent to acrimonious ‘This Opinion Will Open Up The Floodgates:’ What Overturning Roe v. Wade Could Mean For Contraception, LGBTQ+ Rights, And More.

State Developments

Democratic governors are stepping in to fill post-Roe gaps in abortion access. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is leading the way with a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’s pre-Roe abortion ban, passed in 1931. Faced with a Republican-controlled legislature, it is her only option. Democratic attorneys general are also pledging to limit enforcement of new and pre-Roe abortion bans. On the heels of the leak, the Democratic Attorneys General Association pledged $30 million toward AG candidates in swing states, including Georgia and Arizona. The DAGA is the only PAC among its peers (including the DGA, DSCC and DCCC) that requires support for abortion rights as a condition for its endorseemnt and fundraising. One other big race to watch: a ballot initiative in Kansas that would undo the state’s constitution abortion protections. Governors swiftly react to reports of leaked draft opinion of Roe v. Wade Blue states have passed laws to shore up abortion access, but it may not be enough to address potential surge Whitmer says she’ll ‘fight like hell’ for abortion access in Michigan after court leak I’m a Pro-Choice Governor, and I’m Not Going to Sit on My Hands Waiting for Congress [Whitmer] Dem AGs pledge to hold the line if Roe falls Abortion fight thrusts state attorney general races into the forefront Republican state lawmakers prepare to quickly limit abortion access if Roe v. Wade is overturned With abortion ban likely, Wisconsin’s midterm elections already taking on a new form Overturn of Roe v. Wade raises stakes for Kansas abortion rights battle in August

Federal Action

So far the federal government has taken minimal action to protect abortion rights. The Senate brought to a vote the Women’s Health Protection Act—which would codify the “undue burden” standard set in Planned Parenthood v. Casey—but it was blocked by Sen. Joe Manchin and all 50 Republicans. President Biden has directed executive branch officials to protect abortion rights “at every aspect, in every creative way, every aspect of federal law, to try to do all that’s possible,” but so far we are still waiting on concrete plans. A Democratic bill to protect abortion access fails in the Senate, squelching a bid to act before Roe is overturned. The Senate’s doomed vote on abortion rights, explained Biden Must Start Getting Creative to Protect Abortion Rights WATCH: Vice President Harris blasts draft Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade McConnell calls US abortion ban ‘possible,’ says he won’t change filibuster to pass it Pro-abortion rights groups to spend $150M on midterms Rep. Cuellar attacked on his anti-abortion stance by opponent Jessica Cisneros in Texas Democratic runoff In N.C., a Black Senate candidate talks abortion. Her rival doesn’t.

Personal & Community

In the wake of this lack of federal action, abortion funds, other local nonprofits, and even businesses are stepping up to alleviate the undue burden women will now have to face in accessing abortion care. Other progressive groups are also stepping into the fray to support abortion rights and because the broad language of the decision threatens so many personal freedoms. Medication abortion is recognized as safe — even without a doctor — but do enough people know about it? Donate to an Abortion Fund Right Now ‘We saw this day coming’ — midwives prepare to protect abortion access in Wisconsin Corporate America buckles down for culture war on Roe v. Wade How period tracking apps and data privacy fit into a post-Roe v. Wade climate Exclusive: How do people with disabilities feel about abortion? New poll sheds light for the first time Hearing threat to Roe vs. Wade, I thought of my gay marriage — and Jim Obergefell’s fight

In-Depth Stories & Analysis

The most potent tools we have for centering abortion rights in this year’s political conversation are 1) the real experiences of people who have had abortions, and 2) the real facts surrounding abortion and pregnancy in America. Save these links as knowledge and inspiration for your activism this summer: Scenes from Roe protests across America Gen X Has Watched the Rise and Fall of ‘Roe’ This doctor provides abortions at Mississippi’s last clinic. Now, she’s preparing for her final shift. “This Was Not a Surprise”: How the Pro-Choice Movement Lost the Battle for Roe What happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned? LGBTQ+ legal experts are worried about civil rights. Black women in the South have been bracing for Roe’s fall for decades

Upcoming Event: EWA Hosts All 5 Incumbent Women Governors

The Electing Women Alliance invites you to a virtual event in support of the 5 incumbent Democratic women governors running for re-election this cycle.

• Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico
• Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York
• Gov. Laura Kelly, Kansas
• Gov. Janet Mills, Maine
• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan

June 7th, 2022 at 8 p.m. ET Zoom link will be provided upon RSVP

In Other News:

US Senate

What He Wants [New Ad — Sarah Godlewski] Relief [New Ad — Maggie Hassan] Fighting for Iowa [New Ad — Abby Finkenauer] Texas school shooting precedes Senate hearing on pick to run ATF Rep. Ted Budd, former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley win NC’s Senate primaries Beasley internal poll shows dead heat in North Carolina Senate general election Is John Fetterman the Future of the Democratic Party? With Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance, Sarah Godlewski steps up criticism against Ron Johnson over abortion issue

US House

What Went Down During The May 24 Primary Elections Nearly all Democratic frontliners in the House outraised their opponents in the most recent quarter. Cuellar, Cisneros runoff in Texas remains too early to call Two critical Democratic runoffs in South Texas remain too close to call. Here’s what comes next. Rep. Henry Cuellar Tried to Discredit a Staffer He Fired at 28 Weeks Pregnant The 6th District Food Chain: How Crypto Swallowed the Race for a New Congressional Seat Andrea Salinas wins 6th District race for Democratic nomination for Congress; Mike Erickson leads Republicans Jamie McLeod-Skinner defeats Kurt Schrader in Oregon’s 5th District Democratic primary State Sen. Valerie Foushee wins Democratic nomination in NC’s 4th Congressional District, beating Aiken and Allam New congressional map for N.Y. sets stage for major clashes in Democratic primaries Two neighboring Pa. districts tell the tale of changing terrain for Democrats A January 6 rally participant could unseat the longest-serving woman in the House [Marcy Kaptur]

State & Local

Democrat Nan Whaley makes Ohio history as first woman nominated to run for governor Tina Kotek’s win comes amid a wave of LGBTQ candidates running for office Rochelle Garza secures Democratic nomination for Texas attorney general race in November Election results: How Texas voted in the May 2022 primary runoff Several Georgia races head to quick runoffs under voting law “Democracy is essentially at stake”: Georgia Democrats are trying to prove that 2020 was no fluke Live Updates: Georgia Primary Election May 24 2022 Michigan regular and special election results: Democrat flips seat in GOP stronghold Last Line [New Ad — Kathy Hochull] The epic takedown that became a powerful lesson on how to give a political speech New York Governor Appoints Congressman Antonio Delgado As New Lt. Governor And Running Mate Karen Bass endorsed by key rival in Los Angeles mayoral race Rekha Basu: When will the Iowa Democratic Party stop waiting for a ‘Great White Hope’ and see Deidre DeJear?

National

From Sandy Hook to Buffalo and Uvalde: Ten years of failure on gun control 27 school shootings have taken place so far this year Two Professors Found What Creates a Mass Shooter. Will Politicians Pay Attention? Karine Jean-Pierre will become White House’s 1st Black press secretary The Catch-22 Facing Black Voters At The Ballot Box By a wide margin, Americans view inflation as the top problem facing the country today Where megadonors are spending big money to shape the Democratic Party’s future

Women

Working moms in the U.S. have faced challenges on multiple fronts during the pandemic [New Research from Pew] What’s Really at the Root of the Baby Formula Shortage? What Parents Did Before Baby Formula What the National Shortage of Baby Formula Means for Black Families