Concerned Republicans are urging Senate candidates to support IVF

Washington Republicans are urging their Senate candidates to support in vitro fertilization treatments after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled a week ago that frozen embryos should be considered children.

The decision has already proven problematic for Republicans, who have struggled since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade two years ago to walk the line between appeasing conservative anti-abortion activists and excluding more moderate, swing voters.

On Friday, a memo from Jason Thielman, the executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate campaign arm of Republicans, urged the party’s candidates to “clearly and succinctly reject the administration’s efforts to restrict IVF.” and to “join the public’s overwhelming support for IVF and fertility treatments.”

“There are zero Republican Senate candidates who support efforts to limit access to fertility treatments,” Thielman wrote.

The memo cited research from Kellyanne Conway, a Republican pollster and former Trump White House adviser, which found that 85 percent of Americans support greater access to fertility-related procedures and services. Ms. Conway’s data showed that 78 percent of abortion opponents and 83 percent of evangelical Christians supported in vitro fertilization.

Mr. Thielman’s memo provided messages for candidates that would show they support IVF, such as referring to fertility services as “blessings for those who want to have children.” The memo also suggested language that candidates should use to oppose restrictions on the procedures and recommended that Republican candidates campaign on expanding access.

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate David McCormick was one of the first to adopt the NRSC’s advice on Friday.

“IVF is a ray of hope for millions of Americans seeking the blessing of children,” he says Posted on social media. “I am against any attempt to limit this.”