Democrats ramp up offense on abortion, guns

Democrats are increasingly energized after the leaked Roe v. Wade draft opinion from the Supreme Court and recent mass shootings put a spotlight on hot-button social issues they see as liabilities for Republicans.

The party seized on calls to increase abortion access and implement new gun control measures after the draft’s release this month and horrific killings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas. Democrats say the recent developments raise the stakes for the midterms and give them a new opportunity to ramp up pressure on Republicans – a reversal from a monthslong defensive crouch on culture war issues like critical race theory, sex ed in schools and more.