In August, when Kansas voters went to the polls, surveys suggested that the state was on

the cusp of a major victory for opponents of abortion rights.

Instead, abortion rights won in a landslide, kicking off a wave of democratic enthusiasm

that perhaps Republicans had overreached.

For decades, abortion rights organizations had done everything they could to convince

democratic leaders that the issue was actually a winner for the party, that the country was

genuinely on their side on this question.

But the universal response from party leaders was always no.

It was a bad issue for Democrats because the Antis would get all stirred up and come

out in vote, and the pro side didn't care enough.

Prochoice leaders also told me they got the very real sense that party leaders felt

icky talking about abortion.

But after Kansas, it went zero to 60, with Democrats everywhere hammering the message relentlessly

to the exclusion of talking about inflation or public safety, the other issues that are

resonating with voters.

Now, for a brief moment, it looked like Democrats at least had a slim chance to hold

the House and codify Roe v Wade.

They're instead staring down significant losses in the House, and sources tell me that

Republicans are extremely confident they're going to win in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin,

and hopeful they'll win in Nevada and New Hampshire even.

If they do, it puts Republicans within striking distance of 60 Senate seats after the 2024

election, particularly if Fed Chair Jerome Powell succeeds in producing a serious recession.

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