Some Republicans are voicing doubt over Alabama IVF ruling. Democrats see an opportunity

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., speaks following a closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Capitol Hill, Oct. 11, 2023, in Washington. Democrats and reproductive rights groups are seizing on a recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that plunges the future of access to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, into uncertainty, hoping the controversial move will help motivate voters this year. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

Some Republicans joined Democrats in expressing alarm over a ruling this week by the Alabama Supreme Court that jeopardized future access to in vitro fertilization, giving allies of President Joe Biden new fuel for their efforts to center abortion access in the presidential election.

“We’ve got to talk about making sure we don’t take away women’s rights to IVF, women who are childbearing age and want to give birth to children,” said GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, who was campaigning this week for former President Donald Trump in South Carolina. She added, “I’ll be working very hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Democrats and left-leaning interest groups have banked on abortion rights as a major motivator for voters in the upcoming presidential election and fight for control of Congress. They believe abortion can be a winning issue as the debate widens to include increasing concerns over miscarriage care, access to medication, access to emergency care and now IVF treatments.