FAIRFAX, Va. — Democrats hoping to see Elizabeth Warren stridently defend women’s reproductive rights on Thursday would have left the 2020 presidential candidate’s rally in northern Virginia disappointed.
Warren is vehemently pro-abortion but did not focus on the issue that drew many intrigued potential voters to her event at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
The matter also attracted a group of protesters wielding signs that said, “Lizzie only has 1/1024% of a heart for babies,” a reference to the senator from Massachusetts’ Native American ancestry.
“Healthcare is a basic human right, and we fight for basic human rights,” Warren only said, when asked by an audience member during the question-and-answer portion of the rally in response to a query about “Medicare for all.”
Concern among Democrats regarding the status of landmark pro-abortion case Roe v. Wade has resurfaced in recent weeks after a slew of anti-abortion laws were passed across the country, including this week in Alabama. Experts expect the measures to be challenged in courts with immediate jurisdiction before eventually being appealed to the Supreme Court.
For Anne Tompkins, 66, abortion access reignited her political interest, attending Warren’s event on Thursday solo. Tompkins, a retiree who’s tossing up between former Vice President Joe Biden and Warren, said she “was not happy” the fight over Roe v. Wade required to be waged again since the original battle took place 40 years ago. She said her other motivating factor to reengage in the process ahead of the 2020 election was making sure President Trump was booted from the White House “at all costs.”
“I want to hear from Elizabeth Warren because I’m checking out all the front-runners,” she said. “I particularly like her Senate experience, I think she’s outspoken on issues like immigration and reproductive rights and, of course, because she’s a woman.”
The theme of women-centric worries was additionally alluded to by George Mason University juniors Sarah Kurian, 20, and Michelle Gudiel, also 20.
“Has she spoken much about Title IX?” asked Kurian, another undecided voter who was waiting for one of the 20-plus Democrats running to be commander in chief to “stick out.” “After George Mason brought in Brett Kavanaugh to teach for the summer, it really became an issue on campus and it’s something that needs to be tackled at the university-level nationwide.”
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the bench last year was almost derailed after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Kavanaugh, who will teach a two-week constitutional law class for George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School in England starting in late July, has denied all the allegations made against him. The university’s faculty traditionally leans conservative, but its student body, like many across America, is more liberal.
Austin Pryor, 33, told the Washington Examiner a women’s rights platform was a “great place” from which a female contender could assert herself in the race. But while it was a topic the university employee was passionate about, most of the White House hopefuls had similar approaches and it did not help him differentiate contenders in the crowded field. Instead, knowing Warren’s stance on economic policy, he came Thursday because he was curious about her attitudes toward international relations and the environment.
Warren, as of Thursday, averages 8.4% support, according to RealClearPolitics’ polling data.
