Abortion Politics: Physician Mobilization in the Wake of the Dobbs Decision

In June 2022, the Dobbs decision rescinded abortion rights in the US. Did this mobilize women's healthcare providers, whose jobs and patients' health were impacted? We measure mobilization in two ways: 1. Engagement in a physician-led get-out-the-vote (GOTV) drive; and 2. Turnout in the 2022 midterms.

Using a novel dataset of 6,205 physicians involved in a healthcare-based GOTV campaign and voter file data, we utilize linear probability models, t-tests, and parametric regression discontinuity analysis to show that women's healthcare providers were more politically engaged than physicians in other specialties.

In 2022, the percentage of GOTV participants specializing in women's health increased by 50% and the share of women's health provider participating in the GOTV program spiked by 4.8-6.7 percentage points (p < 0.05). Regarding turnout, 6.4% of women's health providers were first-time midterm voters, compared to 5.7% for other physicians. Overall, women's health providers were 3.3 percentage points more likely to vote (p < 0.05) in the first post-Dobbs election than other physicians. Among Democratic physicians, women's health providers were 6.3 percentage points more likely to vote than others.

Our findings have implications for mobilization research and GOTV strategies by highlighting that individuals directly impacted by policy changes are motivated to engage politically.