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John —
It has been a
very big week for us.
Monday→ the Supreme Court heard oral arguments against Texas’ abortion ban.
Tuesday→ Ohio introduced a law that bans *all* abortions and provides a Texas-style bounty.
And later that night, we watched anti-choice Republicans win across Virginia.
This week should be a wake-up call for anyone concerned about reproductive freedom or access to abortion care. Our rights are under attack in Washington and in state-houses across the country. But that doesn’t mean we’re throwing in the towel.
This is why #VOTEPROCHOICE focuses on electing prochoice champions in our communities — they are our first line of defense for our reproductive freedoms. In 2021, 80% of #VOTEPROCHOICE endorsed candidates ran at the local level.
We are so proud of our champions who won their races and who will undoubtedly work to protect reproductive healthcare clinics, birth control, and science-based sex education. And we will continue our fight to elect and support more prochoice champions in communities across the country.
Here are just a few highlights from Election Day:
Community Activist and Teacher Mikal Goodman
City Council — Pontiac, Michigan
#VOTEPROCHOICE Endorsed Candidate, activist for Black and Brown communities, and teacher Mikal Goodman won his election against a long-time anti-choice council member in Pontiac, Michigan. We’re especially excited because Michigan still has a 90-year-old abortion ban on the books. Last year, anti-choice extremists fell just shy of successfully introducing an abortion ban on the 2020 Michigan ballot.
With this much anti-choice activity in Michigan, we’re proud to know that Mikal Goodman will stand up for reproductive freedom in Pontiac!
Reproductive Justice Champion Kendra Hicks
City Council — Boston, Massachusetts
#VOTEPROCHOICE Endorsed Candidate Kendra Hicks is a crucial advocate in our fight for reproductive freedom. Last month, at the Rally for Abortion Justice, Kendra shared her personal abortion story from when she was 19-years-old at the podium: “I had an abortion because I could, and my decision to choose isn’t up for discussion.” On Tuesday, Boston ushered in a new wave of progressive, prochoice leaders alongside councilwoman-elect Hicks, and the city is positioned to lead the way in protecting access for patients in-state and for those who may need to travel for access.
Tenants’ Rights Champion Xander Orenstein
Magisterial District Judge (05-03-10)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#VOTEPROCHOICE Endorsed Candidate Xander Orenstein won their election against a long-time incumbent who prior to serving, had bought and torn down low-income housing in the neighborhood, which is in stark contrast to the values and experience that Xander brings to the office.
Xander Orenstein is the first openly non-binary person to ever serve in the state of Pennsylvania, and while they cannot and do not support or endorse specific policies in order to maintain impartiality of the courts, they’ve consistently voiced support for human rights, including the right to abortion care.
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Results are still rolling in from all over the country, but as of right now, we’ve already celebrated victory with 96 #VOTEPROCHOICE Endorsed Candidates!
The losses at the state level in Virginia are heart-breaking — and they underscore the dangerous threats facing our reproductive rights. But we couldn’t be more proud of
our 2021 endorsed candidates taking office to protect those rights at the local level, where it matters most.
We couldn’t have done any of this without you. Thank you for being a prochoice voter and for staying with us in this fight.
#VOTEPROCHOICE
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