The recent vote in Ohio is just one of a string of cases where voters show they mostly support abortion access to some extent (1). Polls show the same. (2) So why do Republicans (specifically Republican politicians, not necessarily Republican voters) keep trying to do something unpopular?
My (perhaps cynical) view of Republican politicians is that they’re the “do anything to win” party. They would take any stance and pull any trick if it would give them a better chance of winning. So why are they so stuck on a losing issue?
The article touches briefly on it, essentially even though a minority wants these terrible policies, that minority are the GOP base and are generally single issue voters and religious. That minority has an outsized say due to gerrymandering. And there is also a feedback loop in this country where the GOP gerrymanders, they cut education and other social services, blame the “enemy” for the downturn in QOL for their constituents, and repeat. It solidifies the us vs them mentality that has these people voting against their own interests.
Obviously super simplified outlook on it since it is a very complex issue. Other people in the thread have explained better.