After the Supreme Court handed down its Dobbs decision in June 2022, the Republican Party felt a sense of unity and purpose. The major pro-life victory reinvigorated voters. But elation on the Right matched anger on the Left. In the midterm elections, Dobbs and the abortion issue galvanized Democrats .

On Tuesday, Janet Protasiewicz beat Dan Kelly to win a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. The win shifts the court to the left. Once again, abortion proponents are celebrating conservative disappointment. Protasiewicz campaigned on her desire to protect so-called reproductive rights for women in the state. No doubt, the Dobbs decision spurred that enthusiasm. And Dobbs will continue to affect elections for years to come.

The poor showing in the 2022 midterm elections and the major setback in Wisconsin just this week should serve as a wake-up call for the Republican Party. The landscapes both statewide and nationwide have shifted in the aftermath of Dobbs. Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey have been defeated, but the historic change will provide little electoral comfort going forward.

The fact has caused some, including former President Donald Trump, to complain about the abortion issue as if it doomed the GOP. There is no place for such a destructive attitude. If anything, the party that espouses conservative values should unapologetically continue the fight. A true culture of life is not created in a single decision, even one as momentous as Dobbs.

There is much to be said for incrementalism in the local and regional efforts to protect unborn babies in the womb. Federalism is good, but it increases the challenge.

At the same time, the GOP needs to reject connections to Trump. Kelly's loss in Wisconsin was in part due to his former public support of Trump, including questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election. As usual, Trump viewed the loss as largely due to Kelly not seeking an endorsement from him.

All of this raises the question: Are Republicans serious enough to handle a post-Dobbs world? Consider what has transpired since the decision, in the form of midterm elections and other races, and comments made by Trump and other party leaders and pundits. The victory last June imbued an arrogance that gave conservatives a false feeling of security. Such a major win felt like a catalyst for more positive, pro-life changes.

While those are not entirely absent, the battle seems to be just as much of an uphill battle as before. Add to that the ego with which the former president operates. Trump will quickly malign or dismiss the pro-life issue altogether if he sees room to teach a lesson in insufficient allegiance.

Right now, abortion proponents have intensity on their side. They remain invigorated. The election results and talking points reflect that. Republicans embraced a major victory with Dobbs but have floundered since then. The Dobbs decision will forever remain a necessary and positive change, no matter what. But it was not meant to carry Republicans legislatively or electorally.

The pro-life fervor must continue to work toward statewide solutions that protect both mother and child. Importantly, Trump's recent words and actions should disqualify him from being included much, or at all, in the conversation. He harms both candidates and the cause, and there is no room for error with either.

The leftist majority win on the Wisconsin Supreme Court should not be taken lightly. If Republicans are to learn any lessons here, they should center on distancing the party from Trump and viewing the Dobbs decision as a link in the chain, not a final victory. Failure to do both will continue to result in disappointments and pro-life setbacks. A party that values conservative ideals and desires additional pro-life advancement can't afford to remain entrenched in the past.

Kimberly Ross ( @SouthernKeeks ) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.