What could be more joyful than discussing abortion, right? If that made you uncomfortable, you might want to have a word with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Last Friday, just days before the election, the Democratic presidential candidate spoke at a campaign event in Houston, not only to support the Democratic Senate candidate but also to draw attention to other issues.

By focusing on abortion while associating with celebrities, Harris aimed to turn Texas into a warning example, promoting a misleading narrative about joy and freedom for women.

Hopefully, women will see through this act.

What brings Harris and Trump to Texas?

During the rally centered on abortion, Beyoncé called for “America to sing a new song” and expressed her support for Harris. Other notable attendees included Texas icon Willie Nelson and actress Jessica Alba.

Simultaneously, former President Donald Trump was also in Texas to appear on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” a widely popular podcast.

Trump’s decision to guest on Rogan’s show indicates he feels confident about his lead. Although Rogan may not fit the MAGA label perfectly, his audience likely aligns with those sentiments. This is a strategic move that reflects assurance rather than desperation.

It’s quite notable that both candidates chose to campaign in Texas, a staunchly red state dominated by Republicans at both federal and state levels, as they make their final pushes.

The Democratic Party should be worried as critical states in the upper Midwest are slipping from their grasp. Current polls indicate Trump has a slight lead in these battleground regions, and that margin appears to be increasing.

However, it does make strategic sense for both candidates to make stops in Texas. Democratic Representative Colin Allred is challenging Republican Ted Cruz for his Senate seat, and the race is surprisingly competitive. Democrats are eager to claim the seat and assert that Texas, traditionally a solidly red state, is now turning purple.

Naturally, Republicans are highly motivated to ensure Cruz’s victory. Losing a Senate seat in Texas to a self-proclaimed moderate Democrat would be akin to Alabama unexpectedly losing a football game to Auburn, or maybe even a rare loss to Vanderbilt. (Okay, that has happened, but it’s an unusual scenario.)

Nonetheless, Harris’s visit to Texas involved more than just the Senate race.

Harris uses fear to rally support among women

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, transferring the authority to regulate abortions back to the states, Democrats have increasingly resorted to fear tactics to engage suburban women nationally.

A new series of advertisements by Harris’s campaign narrates the story of a Texas woman who contracted sepsis due to inadequate medical treatment following a miscarriage. The ad attributes this ordeal to Texas’s strict pro-life legislation, which permits abortions only when the mother’s life is at risk due to pregnancy complications.

This message depicts Texas as resembling a real-life “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a state where women supposedly lack rights and often face life-threatening situations because they cannot obtain an abortion.

The Associated Press describes one of the ads as particularly heartbreaking: “In one ad, a woman named Ondrea shares her excitement about expecting a girl only to learn that the baby would not survive due to early water breaking. She was denied an abortion, went into labor, and shared, ‘Immediately after her birth, I was in the worst pain of my life,’ with the camera capturing her and her husband in their living room near an ultrasound photo of their baby.”

Harris shared an advertisement featuring a woman from Texas to raise awareness among women in other states. Her message is straightforward: suburban women in Atlanta, Detroit, and Charlotte, you should vote for me, or you might face the same situation as women in Texas.

As a conservative woman and mother from Texas who supports pro-life views, I have reservations about certain details in Texas’ abortion law that came into force in September 2021.

I was particularly uneasy with the ambiguous definition of “medical emergency” in the law. It’s unacceptable for a pregnant woman to be at risk of dying because healthcare providers refrain from acting due to fears of legal repercussions from the state’s abortion restrictions.

However, since the law’s implementation, some clarifications have been introduced. In August 2023, Governor Greg Abbott endorsed a bill permitting doctors to carry out abortions in situations involving ectopic pregnancies or premature ruptures of the amniotic sac. This adjustment also offers legal protection to healthcare providers against lawsuits and criminal charges.

This past June, the Texas Medical Board provided guidance stating that an abortion is permissible under the law even if a pregnant woman’s death is not immediate.

According to a report by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, doctors recorded 52 abortions in 2023 that fell under medical exceptions.

Nonetheless, these details could appear harsh for younger women who have recently been told they could have unrestricted access to abortions without consequence.

Even if the Texas law has its flaws, it is still a measure aimed at protecting both mothers and their unborn children, and it offers support for families.

Harris promotes a misleading narrative regarding abortion

Contrary to the message in Harris’ advertisement, the majority of women do not seek abortions because their lives are in danger or because their unborn children are facing severe health risks. They often choose abortion due to unplanned pregnancies, not wishing for a baby to disrupt their lives.

I empathize with women who feel compelled to seek an abortion and with those who grieve after the procedure.

While pro-life laws have their imperfections, they aim to safeguard both mothers and their babies. Over the years, Republican leaders have made significant strides in providing resources to assist mothers with unexpected pregnancies, ensuring both their well-being and that of their newborns. Texas has also made advancements in this area.

During her visit to Texas, Harris perpetuated the falsehood that life improved when abortion services were widely accessible.

This falsehood builds on another misconception: that the legalization of abortion across the U.S. through Roe v. Wade enhanced women’s freedom and happiness.

This perception is completely inaccurate.