Watch: Young Democratic Voters’ React to Overturning of Roe v. Wade in Focus Groups by HIT Strategies

Washington, D.C. | July 12 – HIT Strategies conducted its first focus group with young Democratic voters since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last week. The participants feared the latest development threatened other constitutional rights and said Democratic leaders should do more to ensure access to abortion. Still, they remained determined to act. 

“Despite their frustration with the politics of overturning Roe, these young voters are passionate and energized about trying to make a difference in their communities,” said Roshni Nedungadi, HIT Strategies’ founding partner. “Now it’s time for …our elected officials to rise to the moment and meet young people where they are. There’s incredible energy – it’s up to our elected leaders to harness it and take political action.” 

This focus group involved ten “base” voters, ages 25 to 39, who regularly turn out to vote for Democrats. 

*Warning: The video contains a mention of suicide.  

Youth Base Dems 

• “I feel negative about the way things are going in the country these days, and I feel like we’re reverting back to times that I don’t want to revert back to. I feel like women’s rights are being toyed with—like if we’re not human and I don’t like it.” – young Hispanic base woman 
• “I would say fatigued because there’s only so much a level of anger and upset you can be before it takes a toll and you’re just exhausted of being upset all the time.” – young white base woman 
• “There’s gonna be people that commit suicide. You can only take so much. You’re forcing women to keep a baby that’s gonna make them not happy with themselves, so ultimately some people might end up killing themselves.” – young Hispanic base woman on her reaction to Dobbs 
• “You have to not donate to politicians. You have to donate to funds/community services in your area…you can donate to those funds and services that help facilitate women and anybody who needs that help to either travel, house, pay for the procedure itself—just make sure it’s safe—, provide a cover story, etc.” – young white base woman 
• “I do have some friends that have asked me if I wanted to help transport in other states and provide shelter and cover stories for those that are not able to get abortions or to provide funds or things of that nature.” – young AAPI base woman 

More Comments 

• “show what you’ve done, basically. That’s exactly what I’m looking for. Show me what you’ve done already. And then show me what you plan on doing. I don’t want to hear you say that you’re going to do something. Show me your plan so I can believe it. So I don’t just hear you saying, “Oh, I’m X, Y and Z for you guys. And this is how things are going to change.” And then when you have the job, it’s like you said.” – Young Hispanic Base Woman 
• “Tangibility in what you have done and what you’re doing and how your impact will actually directly affect them… Maybe not even like an item, but just like, “Here’s maybe a fact sheet,” like Jennifer was saying like, “Here’s the data. If you don’t do X, Y, Z, X, Y, Z will happen.” – Young White Base Woman 
• “I see that a lot in my community. My congresswoman’s Cori Bush. She’s always back in St. Louis doing stuff with our smaller community. And coming back to the community, meeting with people, she just had a rally like last weekend and broadcasting that on the internet for people here, there, everywhere. And just connecting and making that commitment to say, “I’m here, I’m trying to do what you guys voted me in here to do.” And just putting in that effort and not just being like, “Yeah, I got voted in. So you guys in X, Y, Z years, so you can reelect me.” – Young White Woman, Base 
• “I have to say locally here in Texas, I know Governor Abbot, there’s a lot of people that do not like him. And it’s about change and having someone that you can relate to in Beto O’Rourke is he’s got feet on the ground, and he’s actually reaching out to a lot of younger people to go and facilitate at their conferences and conventions.” – Young Asian Woman, Base 
• “Listen, they have to make the footwork. I feel like the footwork is the best solution, because when you see someone in person it’s different from seeing them on a screen, it’s on a more personal level. You’re literally there face to face with them.” – young Hispanic Woman, base 

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