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The Supreme Court Punted on Abortion. Democrats Think It’s Election-Related.

“What I am concerned about is [the justices] putting this off until the November election,” one House Democrat told NOTUS. “They know how potent this issue is.”

Supreme Court
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

The majority-conservative Supreme Court ruled to maintain abortion access in the two biggest abortion cases since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. But the decisions are just “temporary” victories ahead of an election where the issue is top of mind for voters, Democrats told NOTUS.

“The court is kicking the can down the road, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re kicking it down the road to get through the November election,” Rep. Kathy Manning, who is leading House Democrats’ efforts to protect contraception, told NOTUS. “And I find that appalling.”

The justices dismissed two cases related to abortion: one that sought to reimpose restrictions on abortion pills and a second, on Thursday, that looked to prohibit abortions in emergency cases. Both dismissals were based on procedural grounds rather than on the merits of the cases themselves, meaning the issues could wind up back at the Supreme Court — and with very different outcomes for abortion rights.