A Democratic group, which aims to increase party control in state Capitols, claims in a new memo that state legislatures are the 'deciders of reproductive freedom.'
Heather Williams, president of Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), stated in a new memo that 'we are always just one Supreme Court decision away from a state law being catapulted to the national stage—like the Mississippi abortion ban that Dobbs upheld.'
Williams mentioned that 'states have never been more important to shaping policy or our future. State legislatures are now the deciders of reproductive freedom, shaping the reality facing women and their access to care.'
The memo highlighted that abortion bans or restrictions affecting abortion access earlier than what had been ruled in Roe v. Wade have been put in place in 25 states.
The memo also pointed out that over a dozen states have introduced new legislation aiming to provide embryos personhood rights.
She explained that the DLCC has a target budget of $60 million, and the group is focusing on a few states. Democrats are seeking to expand the party's majorities in Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. In New Hampshire and Arizona, Democrats aim to end GOP majorities.
The memo from Williams stated, 'In Kansas, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, we are striving to ensure that Democratic governors can override GOP supermajorities and veto extreme legislation that could affect nearly 20 million Americans. In Georgia, we are aiming to make progress to put a future majority in play that can protect rights for over 10 million Americans.'
Williams’s memo comes as Democrats have been emphasizing the issue of abortion and in vitro fertilization after the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling earlier this year that frozen embryos were considered children. That led several providers in the state to pause IVF treatments. Though several of those providers have since resumed IVF treatments after lawmakers passed legislation that would protect providers from civil or criminal liability regarding the procedure.
The enduring significance of abortion as a successful campaign issue for the party has been demonstrated as Democrats flipped the Virginia state House and retained the state Senate last year. The party was also able to pass an abortion rights measure in the red-leaning state of Ohio. Williams told The Hill in an interview that Democrats have been 'overperforming by an average of six points across the country' in special elections.'…I think part of what we’re working really hard to do is tell the story of impact and of sort of strategic importance and really leading the way in the states to say like, ‘Hey, we have to return President Biden to the White House, and we need to build majorities in Congress. We also need to make sure that we are funding the efforts into the states because it is there where these issues are being fought today and will be fought in real time in the future,'” Williams said. One future special election that will examine the importance of abortion and IVF will take place in Alabama state House District 10, situated in the Huntsville area. Democrat Marilyn Lands has emphasized these issues in her campaign, while Republican Teddy Powell has focused on inflation, the economy, and infrastructure. Progressive news site Daily Kos
the district voted for Donald Trump by a margin in 2020 and for former Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) by 5 points. A Democratic group that aims to increase party control in state Capitols is stating in a new memo that state legislatures are the “decision-makers of reproductive freedom.” Heather Williams, president of Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), mentioned in the memo that “we are always just one Supreme Court decision away from a state law… state House and kept the state Senate last year. The party was also able to pass an abortion rights measure in the red-leaning state of Ohio.
Williams told The Hill in an interview that Democrats have been “overperforming by an average of six points across the country” in special elections.
“….I think part of what we’re working really hard to do is tell the story of impact and of sort of strategic importance and really leading the way in the states to say like, ‘Hey, we have to return President Biden to the White House, and we need to build majorities in Congress. We also need to make sure that we are funding the efforts into the states because it is there where these issues are being fought today and will be fought in real time in the future,'” Williams said.
One upcoming special election that will test the salience of abortion and IVF will be in Alabama state House District 10, located in the Huntsville area, where Democrat Marilyn Lands has made those issues a focal point in her campaign. Republican Teddy Powell has leaned into issues around inflation, the economy and infrastructure.
Progressive news site Daily Kos notes the seat went for Donald Trump by a point in 2020 and went for former Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) by 5 points.
