The anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision has arrived, and it comes just two days after the inauguration of Donald Trump, the man who helped trigger its downfall. Despite publicly shifting their stance on abortion, Republicans have been quietly working to undermine reproductive rights. They have snuck harsh restrictions into budget bills, blocked bills that would have protected patients and doctors, and obstructed efforts to reinstate the protections of Roe.
Despite their attempts to appear moderate, Republicans have continued to push their real agenda. In Missouri, they have filed bills to overturn a ballot initiative that supported abortion access. In Indiana, they have introduced a bill that would push care further out of reach for rape survivors. In Texas, the attorney general has filed a lawsuit against a New York doctor for providing care to a Texas resident.
The vast majority of Americans believe in the right to choose, including 50% of Republican women. The results of the election cycle have shown that abortion is still a highly motivating issue for voters across parties. Women like Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and Rep. Laura Gillen all won tightly contested races that came down to which candidate could be trusted to protect reproductive rights.
Governors have been a frontline of defense against attacks on reproductive rights, and some have taken action to safeguard access to abortion care. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has directed state agencies to secure an extended stockpile of abortion medication, while New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued an executive order protecting patients from extradition and out-of-state investigations.
It is critical to stand behind leaders who will take action to keep reproductive rights intact. Governor candidates like Rep. Mikie Sherrill and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger are the kind of leaders needed to hold the line and defend access to healthcare. This year, Americans have an opportunity to begin charting a path forward and that begins with the Democratic women leaders who can be trusted.
