WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Republicans joined Democrats in expressing alarm over a ruling this week by the Alabama Supreme Court that jeopardized future access to in vitro fertilization, giving allies of President Joe Biden new fuel for their efforts to center abortion access in the presidential election.

“We must discuss the importance of preserving women’s access to IVF, particularly for those of childbearing age who wish to have children,” stated Republican Representative Nancy Mace while campaigning for former President Donald Trump in South Carolina. She assured, “I will put in great effort to prevent any potential restrictions on this.”

The Democratic party and organizations with liberal beliefs have relied on the issue of abortion rights to encourage voters in the upcoming presidential election and battle for power in Congress. They see abortion as a potential winning topic, especially as the discussion expands to include growing concerns about miscarriage care, access to medication and emergency services, and even IVF treatments.

The Republican party has faced challenges discussing the topic, as pro-abortion groups have been victorious in elections even in traditionally conservative states. On Thursday, organizations advocating for reproductive rights drew parallels between the recent ruling in Alabama and the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs, which overturned Roe v. Wade and removed the federal protection of abortion rights.

“The impact of this is reminiscent of Dobbs,” stated Mini Timmaraju, leader of the organization Reproductive Freedom for All, discussing the recent events. “Many were skeptical that this could occur, but it is becoming a reality.”

On Thursday, Biden released a statement attributing the Alabama ruling to the reversal of Roe v. Wade. During her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, Vice President Kamala Harris also accused Republicans of being hypocritical.

During a speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she stated that while some argue against an individual’s right to terminate a pregnancy, others also argue against the right to start a family.

The Alabama Supreme Court, which is made up entirely of Republicans, declared on Wednesday that frozen embryos produced through in vitro fertilization (IVF) are legally considered children in the state. This decision could lead to families and IVF clinics facing criminal charges or financial penalties. As a result, the state’s largest hospital and at least two other providers have temporarily stopped offering IVF treatments while they determine how the ruling will affect them.

Trump remained silent on the decision and his campaign did not promptly address a comment request. As the leading candidate in the Republican primary, Trump has consistently opposed pleas from those against abortion to back a nationwide ban, citing its unpopularity among the general population. Last week, both the Biden campaign and advocates for abortion rights capitalized on a news article stating that Trump had privately mentioned backing a 16-week ban.

In a recent interview with NBC News, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who was Trump’s primary opponent, expressed her agreement with the Alabama Supreme Court’s stance on embryos, stating that she considers them to be babies. However, in a subsequent interview with CNN, she clarified that she does not support the shutdown of IVF treatments and believes that Alabama should reevaluate its laws.

Haley emphasized the importance of ensuring the proper protection and respect for embryos. Additionally, she stated the significance of providing parents with the autonomy to make decisions about their embryos in consultation with their doctor.

During the POLITICO Governors Summit on Thursday, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, a member of the Republican Party, expressed concern over the ruling, calling it “frightening.” Similarly, Alabama State Senator Tim Melson, also a Republican, announced his plans to introduce legislation aimed at safeguarding IVF services in his state.

However, some members of the Republican party supported the decision made by the Alabama court and indicated that they would discourage women from utilizing IVF.

Catalina Stubbe, the leader of Moms for Liberty, a non-profit organization that supports parental rights in education and focuses on discussions about race and LGBTQ identity in schools, expressed understanding for women who desire to become biological mothers through in vitro fertilization but believes adoption should be considered instead.

Stubbe stated that there are numerous alternatives for mothers to consider instead of IVF. She clarified that this was her personal stance, not that of her group. She expressed sadness over the idea of creating a life just to be treated as a laboratory experiment.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a widely used method for individuals or couples who are struggling to conceive. This includes couples facing fertility issues, LGBTQ couples, and those who want to avoid passing on serious genetic conditions or a high risk of cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 84,000 babies are born each year through IVF.

Laws and judicial decisions that declare the start of life as the moment of fertilization, or grant legal rights to embryos, could restrict certain aspects of the in vitro fertilization procedure. This may include the extraction of non-implanted embryos from the uterus or the disposal of remaining embryos.

Reproductive specialists are expressing concerns about the potential consequences of losing the ability to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This has led many patients to urgently transfer their cryopreserved embryos to states with more lenient abortion laws, which can be a costly, complicated, and potentially harmful process.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois and a mother of two daughters conceived through IVF, has called on Congress to pass a recently introduced bill that seeks to safeguard access to IVF.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee urged voters in Alabama to support the Democratic nominee, Marilyn Lands, in an upcoming special election for a state legislative position.

“This could be a determining factor in who is elected president and could have a big impact in who serves in Congress,” said Kathleen Sebelius, a Democratic former Kansas governor and secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services.

During the annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, Lala Mooney from Charles Town, West Virginia, expressed her full support for the Alabama ruling.

Mooney, whose son is Alex Mooney, a Republican U.S. Representative, stated that embryos have the potential to become children. He believes that upon fertilization, they are considered human beings.

Pat Parsley, a 76-year-old resident of Georgetown, South Carolina, was present at a campaign event on Thursday afternoon, eagerly awaiting news from Haley. Despite her support for the former South Carolina governor’s nomination, she expressed disapproval of the Alabama ruling.

Parsley expressed her fear and concern for the impact of recent events on women and families. She believes that the decision to have an abortion should be left to the individual woman. She also admitted that she is grateful not to be a young woman in this current climate, as she believes that progress has regressed for women’s rights.

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This report was contributed to by Associated Press journalists Adriana Gomez Licon, Colleen Long, Michelle L. Price, Amanda Seitz, and Ali Swenson.

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