A recurring theme in the abortion debate has been that Republicans should be careful what they wish for.
This line of argument holds that a Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which made abortion a constitutional right in the U.S. 45 years ago, would be a disaster for the party. Anti-abortion politicians, no longer able simply to make rhetorical stands, would be pressed by their supporters to enact actual bans on abortion — and that prospect would awaken a pro-choice majority that has been complacent under Roe. A voter backlash would both preserve legal abortion and exile Republicans from office.