A new poll commissioned by Concerned Women for America is giving social conservatives a political argument they are likely to use heavily before the midterm elections: on several high-profile cultural issues, the survey found voters taking positions aligned with conservative policy goals.
The poll, reported by Quinn Delamater for The Washington Stand, found majority support for reinstating an in-person doctor visit requirement before mifepristone, an abortion drug, is dispensed. It also reported voter concern over biological males identifying as girls or women participating in female sports and sharing locker rooms with female athletes.
Abortion-pill rule draws majority support in the survey
According to The Washington Stand’s report, more than 67% of respondents said they definitely or probably believe the Food and Drug Administration should again require an in-person doctor’s visit before dispensing mifepristone.
Matt Carpenter, director of FRC Action, told The Washington Stand that the results were encouraging for abortion opponents.
“The results here clearly show voters are supportive of a socially conservative agenda,” Carpenter said, according to the report. “For pro-lifers, in particular, the findings that almost 70% of voters agree with reinstating the FDA’s in-person requirement for dispensing the abortion drug, mifepristone, are encouraging.”
The report also cited recent comments from Attorney General Todd Blanche during a Senate confirmation hearing, where he addressed the issue in response to Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.
“We [the Department of Justice] are trying to let the FDA do their work so that we can work to protect the lives of the unborn children and, frankly, the states’ laws,” Blanche said, according to the source report.
Girls’ sports and gender-related care for minors
The CWA poll also found that more than 69% of voters said it was very or somewhat important in deciding who to vote for that candidates oppose requiring female athletes to compete with, or share locker rooms with, biological males who identify as girls or women.
On gender-related medical procedures for minors, the poll found that more than 63% somewhat or strongly opposed allowing services including puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to be provided to people under 18.
CWA President and CEO Penny Nance said the findings should influence candidates’ messaging.
“Candidates running for office this year must recognize that voters are widely supportive of protecting women’s health, the ability to raise children, fairness in women’s sports, protecting children from gender transitions and from TV content with LGBTQ themes,” Nance said, according to The Washington Stand. “We are encouraged by the poll results, especially in this politically divisive time. This poll should serve as a roadmap for conservative candidates.”
Concerns over children’s programming
The survey also touched on entertainment content marketed to children. According to the report, 60% of respondents said they definitely or probably found it concerning that a recent survey found 40% of Netflix shows rated for children contain LGBTQ themes, characters or storylines.
The source report connected the finding to recent pressure from House Republicans on the Federal Communications Commission to require warning labels on children’s programming with controversial gender themes.
Child care, abortion benefits and workplace policy
The CWA poll also asked about employers that cover abortion-related services or travel. According to the report, 79% of women and 77% of men surveyed agreed that companies paying for abortion services in health policies or travel should also help with child care for employees who choose to give birth.
Carpenter argued that the abortion-pill policy could be changed by the FDA.
“This is a policy the FDA can take care of at any time, it just requires the political will to do so,” he said, according to The Washington Stand. “Reinstating these safeguards are a minimum ask for pro-lifers, and as the polling shows, are popular among the electorate.”
