MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) — The only woman running for the U.S. Senate on the Wisconsin battlefield hoped to separate herself from her Democratic challengers Thursday by going first on the airwaves with an ad targeting the incumbent Republican Senator Ron Johnson met by Roe v. Calf.
Sarah Godlewski took the complaint to the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, after a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark 1973 abortion law that legalized abortion nationwide.
The Senate race in almost evenly divided Wisconsin is one of the most hotly contested in the country, vying for majority control of the divided Senate. Abortion rights will be a key issue in the race, with Democrats hoping anger over the potential ouster of Roe v. Wade will motivate voters to deny Johnson a third term.
Johnson, who has backed bills restricting access to abortions, went further than some Republicans on Tuesday since the opinion was leaked. He said in a statement that if the draft judgment overturning Roe v. Wade becomes final, “I would concur with that finding.” Many other Republicans were less direct, instead lamenting that the draft judgment had been leaked rather than directly addressing the merits of the opinion.
Godlewski, who polls have lagged behind in the crowded Democratic primary, trails right behind Johnson in her new ad.
“I’m on the Supreme Court where it looks like Ron Johnson is getting exactly what he wants,” she said before the court. “Knocked over by Roe vs. Wade. Reinstatement of the cruel ban on abortion in Wisconsin. And put doctors in jail.”
Wisconsin has an 1849 law on its books that would make performing an abortion a crime except to save the mother’s life, but that is trumped by the federal abortion law established by Roe. That state ban is expected to be challenged in court if Roe is overturned.
Godlewski’s campaign said the ad would run nationally as part of a six-figure purchase. Wisconsin’s primary is August 9th.
Godlewski, the state treasurer, is the only candidate in the Wisconsin Senate race endorsed by Emily’s List, a group that supports female candidates who support abortion rights. She was in Washington, DC, to attend an Emily’s List conference on Monday when the draft memo was leaked.
She capitalized on this by holding a press conference outside the courtroom Monday night and recording the ad, the first by a Senate candidate in Wisconsin since the leak.
Other Democratic front runners – Lt. gov. Mandela Barnes, Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry and Outagamie County executive Tom Nelson — have similar positions in support of abortion rights. Barnes was the frontrunner, but a Marquette University Law School poll released last week showed the race is getting closer.