Report: Voters contacted in majority-Hispanic south Texas districts overwhelmingly oppose late-term abortion
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America canvassers estimated that 80% to 95% of the voters they spoke to in four majority-Hispanic congressional districts opposed late-term abortion. Canvassers called it a “uniting issue” that could mobilize voters across party lines to vote pro-life in the upcoming midterms.
A national pro-life voter contact program targeting four congressional districts in southern Texas recently reported that most voters in the majority-Hispanic districts oppose late-term abortion and the Democratic Party’s support for abortion on demand.
According to a July 22 report from The Center Square, Susan B. Anthony (SBA) Pro-Life America’s canvassing operation has made about 200,000 visits across Texas’ 23rd, 28th, 34th, and 35th Congressional Districts, where Hispanic residents make up a majority of the population. Canvassers told the outlet that opposition to late-term abortion was widespread among the voters with whom they spoke, with some canvassers estimating that 80 to 95% opposed the practice, regardless of their political affiliation.
Several bilingual canvassers described the opposition as nearly unanimous. SBA Pro-Life America canvasser Santos Pegueros told the outlet that about 95% of the people with whom he had spoken opposed late-term abortion. He called it a “uniting issue,” adding that those canvassed “all think it’s brutal and something they don’t want to vote for or promote.”
Another canvasser, Krishen Rangi, said that during three weeks of speaking with voters in districts 23 and 25, fewer than 10 people said they “were okay with late-term abortion or didn’t have an opinion.”
“Texans are overwhelmingly against it. In political canvassing, if you’re over 80% on an issue, we call it unanimous,” she told the outlet. “With very few exceptions, no one supported late-term abortion. Even pro-choice voters opposed it.”
Rangi also said she believes the issue is mobilizing voters ahead of the midterms because many people with whom she spoke were “passionate about being pro-life” and planned to vote that way.
Abortion is largely illegal in Texas except when a physician determines that a pregnant mother faces a life-threatening physical condition that places her at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantially impairing a major bodily function. The Texas Democratic Party’s platform, meanwhile, calls for repealing the state’s pro-life laws and expanding what it describes as “reproductive health care.”
In the 2024 election, President Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential nominee in decades to win several heavily Hispanic counties along the Texas-Mexico border, according to The Center Square. The outlet reported that some longtime Democratic voters said they believed the party had abandoned them on core issues.
SBA Pro-Life America Chief Political Strategist Frank Cannon told The Center Square that abortion could prove decisive in some of the targeted contests this November.
“SBA Pro-Life America is investing in some of the most closely contested congressional races in Texas because they are critical to maintaining the pro-life majority in the House,” he said. “We’re especially focused on Hispanic voters, who strongly oppose late-term abortion and are sensitive to the fact that the Hispanic community is disproportionately targeted for abortion. As one woman put it: ‘They want our votes, but they don’t want our babies.’”
The pro-life group is focusing its canvassing on four congressional contests that could affect control of the closely divided U.S. House. In the 23rd District, Democrat Katy Padilla Stout faces Republican Brandon Herrera, whom SBA Pro-Life America identifies as the race’s only pro-life candidate, and independent candidate Ben Mendoza. The district’s seat is currently vacant following former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales’ resignation.
In the 28th District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar faces Republican Tano Tijerina, a former Democrat. Although Cuellar has historically opposed some abortion legislation, SBA Pro-Life America has criticized his more recent voting record. In the 34th District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez faces Republican Eric Flores. In the 35th District, where incumbent Democratic Rep. Greg Casar is not seeking reelection, Democrat Johnny Garcia faces Republican Carlos De La Cruz, whom SBA Pro-Life America supports.
