The state of reproductive freedom is dire, but we are fighting back
Today marks three years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and ripped reproductive health care and bodily autonomy away from millions of women in America. And these last three years have exposed the true horror of the far-right's crusade against the constitutional right to privacy.
Women have been denied the health care they need in emergency rooms, putting their lives in danger. Some have even died. Doctors have had to make impossible choices between doing the jobs they swore an oath to do, or facing criminal prosecution. Families have been forced to flee their home states to get medically-urgent reproductive care.
Now, with a Republican administration in place and the GOP controlling both chambers of Congress, the outlook for reproductive freedom is even more dire than it was in 2022.
Trump recently rescinded guidance that directed emergency rooms to provide emergency abortion care. He pardoned anti-choice protestors who'd been found guilty of harassment and violence outside of health clinics. He revoked Defense Department funding for service members who need to travel to receive abortion care.
Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are taking steps to legislatively chip away at reproductive rights – starting with their budget bill. One of its many horrible features is a complete defunding of Planned Parenthood.
But there's one fundamental truth that anti-choice Republicans forget: the American people don't sit quietly when their rights are taken away.
Time and time again these last three years, we've seen record turnout in down-ballot races against anti-choice extremists. Voters in "red" states such as Montana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Kansas have defeated abortion bans or passed abortion protections. Just two-and-a-half months ago in Wisconsin, with abortion rights potentially on the line, the GOP's effort to retake the State Supreme Court failed spectacularly (with their candidate losing by ten points).
There is a path to restoring reproductive freedom everywhere in America – and it starts with flipping the House and Senate in 2026. If we do that, we can stop any piece of anti-choice legislation in its tracks and block Trump from appointing more anti-choice extremist judges. And when a Democratic administration (hopefully) takes office in 2029, our majorities will be ready to immediately restore the rights that Roe granted.
Our fight ahead won't be easy, but it can be won. Freedom is a powerful thing – and voters in red, blue, and purple states alike want it. So let's get to work.
More soon,
Ron
