Democrats launch organizing hub to channel response to Supreme Court abortion decision

Top Democratic campaign committees are launching a national volunteer organizing effort in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, steering rank-and-file Democrats' reaction to the opinion into battleground states.

The trio of committees — the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — are aiming to channel Democratic activism into the coordinated campaigns for candidates in competitive races across the country by launching a website as an online hub for organizing efforts. The site will make it easier for voters to volunteer.

In the states, Democrats plan to hold "weeks of action," organizing volunteers through canvassing, phone banking and text banking. The details of this field organizing effort were shared first with POLITICO.

The website — and subsequent organizing actions yet to be launched — are part of a broader push by Democrats to channel backlash from supporters of abortion rights against the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, which rolled back the half-century and returned full control over abortion policy to the states. Backing for abortion rights is at an all-time high, and Democrats hope to harness that fury into electoral engagement, especially among their flagging base.

The decision, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, is set to upend races across the country as state and local leaders gain new powers to decide when or whether abortion will be permitted, as well as who should be prosecuted and potentially incarcerated when bans take effect.

"Today’s decision dramatically escalates the stakes of the 2022 elections, and we’re making sure Americans have the tools they need to channel their anger into action," DSCC Executive Director Christie Roberts said in a statement shared with POLITICO. "This on-the-ground organizing work will help elect Democrats who will fight to protect women’s right to make their own health care decisions and ensure the GOP’s cruel agenda to making abortion illegal and punish women is front and center for voters across the Senate battlegrounds.”