MEMO: Republican Gaslighting on Abortion Not Effective in Key House Districts

In May, HMP launched our Reproductive Freedom Accountability Fund, a $100 million investment in advertising and voter mobilization – and our work has created a five alarm fire in Republican campaigns. 

House Republicans are scrambling to respond to legitimate attacks on their abortion records because they know their voting records are the votes they have taken sinking their campaigns. As a result of the years of anti-abortion votes taken by House Republicans and damning past statements captured on video, Republicans are on defense. 

Battleground polling from HMP continues to find that no matter how much Republicans attempt to gaslight them, a majority of voters don’t find their false claims about their abortion records to be credible.

The fact is that House Republicans are responding to these honest attacks in a manner that does not resonate with voters whatsoever – with many Republicans barely mentioning abortion in their halfhearted attempts to play defense.

AZ-06
Arizonans are not buying Juan Ciscomani’s lies about his record on abortion rights, with battleground polling conducted by HMP finding:

• 70% of likely voters in AZ-06 believe abortion rights are at risk right now in Arizona.
• 60% of likely voters in AZ-06 have serious doubts about Juan Ciscomani’s record on abortion rights – specifically Ciscomani’s ties to the judges who restored Arizona’s 160 year-old law prohibiting abortion at any stage and imprisoning doctors or nurses who perform abortions.
• 40% of likely voters in AZ-06 believe that Ciscomani’s abortion record is the best reason to vote against him in November. 

In a September 2024 ad, Juan Ciscomani made the false claim that, “I trust women. I cherish new life. And I reject the extremes on abortion” – but the facts and Ciscomani’s voting record expose his lies: 

• Ciscomani touts on his website that, “Juan is proudly pro-life.”
• In June 2024, he voted to pass the NDAA which included an amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In July 2023, he voted to pass the NDAA which included an abortion amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In January 2023, he voted in favor of legislation that would restrict abortions nationwide.
• In a 2022 survey, Juan Ciscomani said that he was pro-life and against abortion. Only supporting abortion with limited exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. 

CA-13
Californians are not buying John Duarte’s lies about his record on abortion, with battleground polling conducted by HMP finding:

• 60% of likely voters in CA-13 have serious doubts about Duarte breaking his promise to his constituents to protect women’s rights and voting to severely restrict a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health care decisions in California.
• Tests conducted by HMP in CA-13 show ads on Duarte’s broken promise moved the horse race in our direction by 8% and increased Duarte’s unfavorability by 12%.

During a September 2024 TV interview, Duarte tried to claim that like former President Trump, he was “pro-choice” but the facts and Duarte’s voting record expose his lies: 

• In June 2024, he voted to pass the NDAA which included an amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In September 2023, he voted to restrict mifepristone which is only used in abortions in the first trimester. 
• In July 2023, he voted to pass the NDAA which included an abortion amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In January 2023, he voted in favor of legislation that would restrict abortions nationwide.
• In October 2022, Duarte said abortion should only be allowed in the first trimester. 
• In 2022, Duarte was endorsed by the Californians for Life, which doesn’t support exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. 

CA-45
Californians are not buying Michelle Steel’s lies about her record on abortion, with battleground polling conducted by HMP finding:

• 63% of likely voters in CA-45 have serious doubts about Michelle Steel’s co-sponsorship of the Life At Conception Act, which advocates for a nationwide abortion ban and puts IVF and fertility treatments at risk.

In a September 2024 campaign ad, Steel fabricated her stance on abortion and IVF when she said “I have always supported women’s access to IVF, and will fight to defend it” – but the facts and Steel’s voting record expose her lies:

• In June 2024, she voted to pass the NDAA which included an amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In September 2023, she voted in favor of legislation that would outlaw Mifepristone being prescribed virtually or picked up at retail pharmacies. 
• In July 2023, she voted to pass the NDAA abortion amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In January 2023, she cosponsored the Life at Conception Act, which would impose the same restrictions on IVF and fertility treatments as Alabama on a federal level.
• In January 2023, she voted in favor of legislation that would restrict abortions nationwide.

NY-17
New Yorkers are are not buying Mike Lawler’s lies about his record on abortion, with battleground polling conducted by HMP finding:

• 57% of likely voters in NY-17 have serious doubts about Mike Lawler’s abortion record and his support for overturning Roe v. Wade. 

In a September 2024 campaign ad, Lawler falsely claimed that he would “never support a national abortion ban” but the facts and Lawler’s voting record expose his lies:

• In June 2024, he voted to pass the NDAA which included an amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In July 2023, he voted to pass the NDAA abortion amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. Abortion service coverage is already limited under the health insurance offered for service members. 
• In January 2023, voted in favor of legislation that would restrict abortions nationwide.
• In 2022 and 2023, Lawler personally donated to the Westchester Right to Life PAC, an affiliate of National Right to Life which advocates for a national abortion ban. 

NY-19
New Yorkers are are not buying Marc Molinaro’s lies about his record on abortion, with battleground polling conducted by HMP after Molinaro went up on broadcast television finding:

• 50% of likely voters in NY-19 have seen and heard about Marc Molinaro’s opposition to abortion rights. 
• A majority of likely voters in NY-19 rank Josh Riley as better on abortion rights than Marc Molinaro. 
• 85% of likely voters in NY-19 believe Marc Molinaro will not oppose a national abortion ban. 

In a 2024 campaign ad, Molinaro is terrified to say the word “abortion” and misled voters when he said he believed “that healthcare decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor” but the facts and Molinaro’s voting record expose his lies:

• In June 2024, he voted to pass the NDAA which included an amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In July 2023, voted to pass the NDAA abortion amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. Abortion service coverage is already limited under the health insurance offered for service members. 
• In January 2023, voted in favor of legislation that would restrict abortions nationwide.
• In June of 2022, he refused to answer on if he would vote on legislation regarding abortion.

NY-22
New Yorkers are are not buying Brandon Willams’ lies about his record on abortion, with battleground polling conducted by HMP finding:

• 74% of likely voters in NY-22 have serious doubts about Brandon Williams’ abortion record. 

In a recent op-ed Williams was not truthful when he said “I do not support a national abortion ban” but the facts and Williams’ voting record expose his lies:

• In June 2024, he voted to pass the NDAA which included an amendment which would prohibit service members from being reimbursed for abortion services. 
• In January 2023, Williams co-sponsored H.R. 7, which would outlaw abortion care for millions covered by the Affordable Care Act.
• In January 2023, voted in favor of legislation that would restrict abortions nationwide. 
• In September 2023, voted in favor of legislation that would outlaw Mifepristone being prescribed virtually or picked up at retail pharmacies.