Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, 28/50

In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that states could not impose an undue burden on women seeking abortions. The current Court will likely review this decision in the fall. More Americans do not want to see Roe v Wade overturned than do want it to (50% to 28%), as has been the case for many years. Party differences are stark. Most Republicans (56%) want to overturn Roe, compared to 24% who don’t. More than three-quarters of Democrats (77%) would not overturn Roe, compared to 11% who would. More Independents would preserve the ruling (48%) than would not (29%).

The decision itself appears to drive people’s opinion of how it was arrived at. Just 17% of those who approve of the Court’s decision believe the Court should have held oral arguments before deciding, while 70% disagree.

The decision also has coincided with a drop in Democrats’ approval of the Court, by 11 points in the last week to 22% from 33%, and 20 points from two weeks ago. Republican Court approval is 13 points higher (57%) than it was two weeks ago (44%) but little changed in the last week (from 55%). As a result, more Americans disapprove than approve of the Court’s job performance this week — a rare negative reading of net Court approval (35% approve, 45% disapprove). Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration is suing Texas over the law.