Mel Manuel For US Congress

Hi John - At 32, I faced a life-changing challenge: I became pregnant despite using a copper IUD, one of the most reliable forms of contraception available. Though 99% effective, I was part of the unfortunate 1%. The IUD was properly in place, but as we know, no birth control is foolproof.

At the time, I was living in extreme poverty with my 5-year-old daughter in New Orleans, struggling to make ends meet as a tour guide. My spouse, a Venezuelan with Spanish citizenship, was battling multiple sclerosis and could only visit the country sporadically. The prospect of bringing another child into the world under such circumstances was overwhelming. It would have been financially devastating and would have made it nearly impossible to care for the child I was already struggling to support.

I made the difficult decision to terminate the unplanned pregnancy, opting for a medical abortion at a clinic in New Orleans—a clinic that no longer exists due to Louisiana’s total abortion ban. The relief I felt afterward confirmed that I had made the right choice for myself and my family.

This experience deeply influenced my decision to run for Congress and to serve as the Director of Operations for the Louisiana Abortion Fund.

For the past two years, we've lived in a post-Roe world, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the soul-crushing consequences of this sinister decision. In Louisiana, where abortion is completely banned and even abortion pills are criminalized, the situation is dire.

At the Louisiana Abortion Fund, we manage a hotline to provide pregnant individuals in the Gulf South with information and financial assistance to obtain safe abortions in states where it’s still legal. However, as more states enact bans and restrictive laws, the demand for abortions—and the cost of obtaining them—continues to rise. This increased demand is making it incredibly difficult for funds like ours to meet the needs of everyone who calls.

I believe that everyone should have access to safe and legal abortion care, but in the world we live in now, that’s not the reality.

I am running for Congress to fight for the women of Louisiana and across the United States who are being pushed into impossible situations. My opponent, Steve Scalise, is an anti-abortion extremist who, as Majority Leader of the House, will use his power to push for a national abortion ban. If he succeeds, countless lives will be at risk.

This is a life-or-death fight, and I need your support to unseat him and protect our right to reproductive freedom. Can I count on you to join us by making a contribution, no matter the amount? Every dollar helps us push back and protect the rights of women across the country.

Thank you for standing with us in this crucial battle.

Mel Manuel