IN THE BATTLEGROUNDS: As SCOTUS Holds Texas’ Abortion Ban Hearings, Democrats Highlight Stakes In 2022

With the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in two challenges to Texas’ six-week abortion ban yesterday––the first abortion case argued before Trump’s three appointed Supreme Court justices––Democrats in key battleground states are highlighting the stakes of the midterm elections and calling out Republicans for their decades-long effort to undermine Roe v. Wade and strip health care coverage away from women and families:

• In Arizona, ADP Chair Raquel Terán called out Mark Brnovich for adding Arizona’s name to the list of states backing Texas’ extreme abortion ban and emphasized the Republican Senate candidates’ reckless anti-abortion positions:
  
  “Today’s hearing on Texas’ draconian abortion ban is a stark reminder that reproductive and abortion rights are under attack in our country. Even as most Arizonans and Americans believe these decisions should remain between a patient and their doctor, Republican politicians have pursued their reckless crusade to repeal Roe v. Wade. By forcing Arizona to back this lawsuit, Attorney General Brnovich has proven he’s in lockstep with this dangerous agenda and out of touch with hardworking Arizonans. If given the chance, Brnovich and every other Arizona Republican politician will do whatever they can to rip reproductive rights away from Arizonans. They must be stopped.”

• In Florida, the executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates Laura Goodhue slammed Marco Rubio for his extreme anti-choice record:
  
  “Marco Rubio’s opposition to safe and legal abortion is fundamentally out of step with his constituents in Florida where a strong majority support Roe v. Wade and don’t want politicians taking away our freedom to make health care decisions with our doctors and families.”
  
  
• In Georgia, Democratic Party of Georgia chair Congresswoman Nikema Williams and the CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates, Staci Fox highlighted the stakes of the midterms and called out Herschel Walker and the entire Georgia GOP Senate field for supporting Texas’ dangerous six-week abortion ban: 
  
  “Today, the Supreme Court will review a ruling that has put reproductive freedom in more danger than ever before — and Georgia Republicans, from Brian Kemp to Herschel Walker, are supporting this dangerous effort to undermine Roe v. Wade and strip away the rights of individuals and families to make their own health care decisions. From setting bounties on health care providers to barring medical intervention even in cases of rape and incest, this egregious ban cannot stand. The stakes in 2022 for Georgia families couldn’t be clearer, and we will do everything in our power to safeguard Georgians’ reproductive freedom and hold Republicans accountable for backing this shameful ban.”

• In Nevada, Nevada Democratic Victory Executive Director Brynn Palmen underscored the stakes of Nevada’s U.S. Senate race for reproductive rights and called out Adam Laxalt for his anti-choice agenda:
  
  “Abortion access is on the ballot in Nevada, with the Supreme Court considering a case that would strip health care coverage away from women and families and Adam Laxalt continuing to push to undermine Roe v. Wade. Laxalt dedicated his career to the anti-choice movement, using his position as Attorney General to threaten reproductive rights, and he would be an automatic vote for federal legislation that blocks women’s health care access if Roe falls.” 

• In North Carolina, the North Carolina Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, and NARAL Pro-Choice NC underscored the importance of bolstering a Democratic Senate majority with the power to confirm or reject Supreme Court justices:
  
  “As the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments today, it is another reminder that abortion rights are under attack in the United States thanks to the Republican Party’s continued efforts to strip away access to health care and a person’s ability to make fundamental decisions about their bodies, families, and futures. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans have packed the courts with conservative justices who are openly hostile to reproductive rights. In 2022, North Carolina voters understand the importance of electing leaders who will bolster the Democratic Senate majority in order to reclaim our courts with judges who reflect the diversity of our nation, will protect reproductive freedom, and will ensure North Carolinians, and their families have the power to make their own health care decisions.”

• In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party highlighted how the entire Republican Senate field refuses to oppose a Texas-style ban in Pennsylvania, putting reproductive health care front and center on the ballot in 2022:
  
  “Republicans have spent the last decade trying to strip health care access away from women and families, and the entire Republican Senate field has refused to oppose a Texas-style ban here in Pennsylvania. Electing a Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania will limit Republicans’ ability to appoint more anti-choice justices to life-long appointments. Today’s oral arguments demonstrate that access to reproductive health care is once again on the ballot in 2022.”

• In Wisconsin, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin reminded voters of Ron Johnson’s extensive anti-choice record of voting for anti-abortion judges who’ve put Wisconsinites reproductive rights in jeopardy and fighting to overturn Roe v. Wade:
  
  “Ron Johnson’s anti-choice crusade is a dangerous affront to Wisconsinites as it undermines people’s ability to make their own health care decisions in consultation with their family. Johnson isn’t living in reality if he thinks blocking people from the health care they need is ‘just fine.’”

• And the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee called out Republican Senate candidates for their attacks on reproductive health care and emphasized how the GOP’s terrible record on choice ensures that women’s health care will be a central issue in Senate races: 
  
  “Today’s oral arguments are the culmination of Republicans’ decades-long effort to undermine Roe v. Wade and strip health care coverage away from women and families. While Senate Democrats are committed to protecting access to health care, Republicans have shown they’ll use every tool they can, from the courts to Congress to attack abortion access — underscoring the importance of defending a Democratic Senate majority with the power to confirm or reject Supreme Court justices. Voters understand that in 2022 the freedom for women to make our own health care decisions is firmly on the ballot.”

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