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Nancy Pelosi and fellow Democrats are immediately using Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade overturning as an election fundraising opportunity

Nancy Pelosi
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading a Democratic fundraising push following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
  • Nancy Pelosi and fellow Democrats immediately began fundraising off the Supreme Court's abortion decision.

  • Pelosi asked for "100,000 gifts before midnight."

  • Democrats said the money would be used to fuel victory in November.

The Supreme Court's decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade and end federal abortion protections immediately turned into an election fundraising opportunity for Democratic political committees.

"Can you chip in $15 so we can WIN these midterms and finally codify reproductive rights into law?" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote supporters minutes after the high court's 6-3 ruling. "Our ONLY option is to marshal a response so historic — 100,000 gifts before midnight — that we DEFEAT every anti-choice Republican that made this happen, EXPAND our Majorities, and FINALLY codify our reproductive rights into law. So, can I expect to see your name on my "Pro-Choice Champion" list tomorrow morning?"

Money raised through Pelosi's solicitation goes to the California Democrat's reelection committee, per the email's fine print.

Fundraising message from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
A fundraising message from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.Nancy Pelosi for Congress

Other Democrats quickly joined in.

"Can you rush in a donation of any amount to stop the far-right and elect a pro-abortion rights Congress this year?" Rep. David Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island, wrote supporters 30 minutes after the high court's 6-3 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson.

"Please, chip in a few dollars or more now to help us show that support for the right to choose has never been higher and that we will mobilize powerfully in the face of this unjust and outrageous ruling," Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia wrote.

"We're asking you to join our fight for abortion rights and make a contribution today," the Florida Democratic Party wrote in an email that suggested a $25 contribution.

"I'm so damn angry I can hardly type this message to you ... I'm asking you to join me and rush $5 in this make-or-break moment," Democratic political operative James Carville wrote on behalf of the re-election campaign of Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. Carville also sent a similar message on behalf of AB PAC, a Democrat-backing political action committee.

James Carville fundraising email for Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
A James Carville fundraising email for Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.Catherine Cortez Masto for Senate

In an email titled "The end of Roe v. Wade," Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood, asked supporters of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke in Texas to "donate anything you can to help us defeat Greg Abbott," the state's Republican governor.

Democratic Sens. Tina Smith of Minnesota, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, were among the many other candidates and political committees to blast out fundraising appeals within one hour of the Supreme Court's ruling.

These solicitations had been pre-planned and pre-written in anticipation of the Supreme Court's ruling in order to maximize contributions from outraged liberals, two Democratic fundraising consultants who are not authorized to speak to the press confirmed to Insider.

Other Democrats, such as Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington, issued statements through their campaign committees but didn't expressly ask for money.

Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, first asked supporters to digitally "sign" a petition to "tell the Senate to protect Roe," and then asked for money once a supporter did so. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire sent a similar pitch.

Republicans, for their part, were comparatively muted on the abortion-related fundraising front Friday morning.

Former President Donald Trump's Save America joint fundraising committee sent out a fundraising appeal, but it didn't mention abortion — it featured a GIF of President Joe Biden falling off his bike last weekend.

Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker in Georgia also made no mention of abortion when he asked backers to "please chip in $2 or more before the day is over." In contrast, Walker's opponent — Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia — asked supporters to "rush a donation to help me defend my seat in Georgia, keep the Senate blue, and protect the right to choose nationwide."

In a separate statement from her congressional office, Pelosi made clear that Democrats will make the Supreme Court's abortion decision a centerpiece of their efforts to retain control of both the US House and US Senate, where they today have tenuous majorities.

"This cruel ruling is outrageous and heart-wrenching," Pelosi said. "But make no mistake: the rights of women and all Americans are on the ballot this November."

Read the original article on Business Insider