Most Republicans say Roe v. Wade should not be overturned

(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

published 24 July 2018

Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established the legal right to abortion, is back in the spotlight — but not many Americans think it should be up for debate.

Support for the ruling is at an all-time high, an NBC News and Wall Street Journal poll found, with 71 percent of American voters believing that Roe should not be overturned and 23 percent supporting a reversal.

Back in 1989, only 58 percent of Americans wanted to keep the decision in place. Support for Roe has steadily climbed over the years, poll data shows, especially among Democrats. Most recently, 88 percent of Democrats said they wanted the ruling to remain, while 76 percent of independent voters agreed. Most Republicans also support Roe, with 52 percent wanting to keep it in place and 39 percent preferring that it be overturned.

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Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.

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