Friends,

Yesterday, a federal judge ordered that an old law that hasn’t been enforced has now essentially been brought into effect by the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

The law bans abortion after 20 weeks in North Carolina.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The current limit in North Carolina is set at 23/24 weeks. Abortions after 20 weeks are exceptionally rare. In North Carolina, the most recent data indicates there are about 30 per year. These are situations in which the patient has received a devastating diagnosis.
    
2. This is the first rollback. The majority party in the state legislature is very likely to pass a complete ban next year when they’re back in session.
    
3. When the majority party passes a complete ban, it will be vetoed by Gov. Cooper. Then a vote will be scheduled to override the veto. Right now, Democrats have enough votes to sustain the veto - which is why we haven’t seen the majority party attempt a ban yet. But the margin is incredibly close: In the state Senate, it’s just two votes.
    
4. Yes, I’m running for federal office. And yes, I support codifying Roe. But the most important thing you can do right now to ensure that reproductive freedom still exists in North Carolina next year is to support key state Senate races. I’m going to make it easy for you. This link right here splits donations between three women running for the state Senate who are all in very close races and who all strongly support reproductive freedom. These funds go equally to state Sen. Sydney Batch, Rep. Rachel Hunt (who is running to replace me in the state Senate), and Mary Wills Bode (a state Senate candidate in Wake County).

It’s not an exaggeration to say that if we win these three races, reproductive freedom is probably safe from a total ban next year. So if you believe in this cause, you now have a very clear way to make a difference.

I hope you’ll help these three strong candidates and — on their behalf — thank you for your support.

Best,
Jeff