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

CONTEXT: In June 2022, the Dobbs decision rescinded abortion rights in the US.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. METHODS: 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. FINDINGS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have implications for mobilization research and GOTV strategies by highlighting that individuals directly impacted by policy changes are motivated to engage politically.