In a survey conducted by the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center, 1,572 Oregon residents aged 18 and over were asked a variety of abortion-related questions following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn the historic Roe v. Wade decision.

Most significantly, 62% of Oregonians would vote to reinstate Roe v. Wade if given the opportunity, while 22% would vote to keep it overturned.

Secondly, 72% of Oregonians believe abortion in all or most circumstances should be legal, while 23% statewide said abortion should be illegal.

There is about an 18% difference between rural and urban residents on the topic of abortion, showing how support for legal abortions remains strong across Oregon.

Recent election results in Kansas to oppose a total abortion ban are mirrored in Oregon’s rural, Republican areas. Very rural Oregonians and Republican Oregonians overwhelming oppose a total ban on abortion, with 71% of Republicans supporting abortion access for people whose lives would be threatened by the pregnancy.

Strong opposition to a total ban among Oregon’s independent and non-affiliated voters (82%) may explain something about how abortion is playing out in Oregon’s three-way gubernatorial race so far. Republican Christine Drazan is downplaying abortion, and non-affiliated gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson is preventing any daylight between her and Democrat Tina Kotek on this issue.

According to the survey, 79% of Oregonians living in urban areas are more likely to says abortion should be legal in all or most cases. This compares to the 61% of rural Oregonians who believe the same.

“Abortion is a health issue, not a political one,” said Marla Edge, a woman who lives in suburban Clackamas County. “Women should be able to determine what is best for them.”

The survey also reflected differing voices on the topic of abortion rights.

“The only time I cannot support someone’s right to abortion is when they use it as a form of birth control,” said Lynn Spuhler, a man from rural Clackamas County. “I know women who have had three or more abortions. Abortion should be limited to one or two.”

The survey was conducted July 8-16 as President Joe Biden signed an executive order to protect reproductive rights in light of the reversal of Roe v. Wade on July 8. Whether or not this executive order altered responses to the reversal of Roe v. Wade cannot be shown through the data.