LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — As the November elections approach, Michigan’s 8th Congressional District has quickly become a battleground over abortion rights, with national and local forces converging to influence the outcome. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) launched its first attack ad of the cycle on August 14, targeting Republican candidate Paul Junge of Grand Blanc Township and portraying him as having radical views on abortion.

The ad arrives on the heels of Junge’s primary victory, setting up a showdown with Democratic state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet of Bay City. With political analysts labeling the district as a “tossup” according to The Detroit News, the topic of abortion has become a central issue for democrats, especially after Michigan voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution through a 2022 ballot initiative.

MORE NEWS: Crews Clean Up Styrofoam Along Lake Superior

The 30-second ad funded by the DCCC aims to connect Junge with the broader Republican agenda, suggesting he could be the “deciding vote” for a national abortion ban in Congress—a claim that plays directly into ongoing fears stoked by the fall of Roe v. Wade. The ad features a clip of Junge from a 2020 debate where he dismissed Roe v. Wade as granting “made-up rights.”

Junge’s stance on abortion, however, has evolved since his previous campaigns. In a recent interview with The Detroit News, Junge clarified that while he is personally anti-abortion, he respects the will of Michigan voters and would not support federal legislation that contradicts the state’s constitutional protections. 

“I’m not going to try to change what the Michigan voters set up,” Junge said, adding that he now supports exceptions in cases of rape or incest—a shift from his earlier positions.

On social media, reactions to the DCCC’s ad have been mixed. Some voices argue that the federal government has no authority to impose a nationwide abortion ban unless the Supreme Court revisits Roe v. Wade. “Unless the Supreme Court gets together and reverses their decision on Roe v Wade, abortion is a state right the federal government can’t issue a nationwide abortion ban, stop buying into Democrats fear mongering people,” one commenter posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Other responses reflect a growing weariness with the abortion debate dominating the political discourse. “​​Abortion again … is this all Dems run on?” lamented another X user. 

Meanwhile, McDonald Rivet has made reproductive rights a cornerstone of her campaign, signaling that this issue will remain a focal point as the race progresses. Both Junge and McDonald Rivet have exchanged attack ads, and with substantial investments pouring into the Flint market from national political groups, the intensity of the campaign is only expected to escalate.