Democratic Governors Launch Reproductive Freedom Alliance

WASHINGTON — Twenty Democratic governors have launched the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, which they’re describing as a “non-partisan coalition … committed to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom in their states.”

As outlined in a press release, the alliance was forged to help them work together to advance reproductive freedom in the face of tighter restrictions in neighboring states and conservative judges intent on tossing out long-standing protections to access to abortion.

Though the group currently has a decidedly Democratic flavor, it hangs its hat on nonpartisanship due to the members’ assertion that “all governors who support reproductive freedom are welcome to join.”

“This is an issue of freedom,” said Gov. Jay Inslee, of Washington state. “Patients must have the freedom to make personal reproductive care decisions for themselves, without interference by activist politicians. 

“Washington is taking strong action to protect these freedoms for every patient and provider in our state, and we are all in on the fight to protect a person’s right to an abortion across the country,” he said.

The governors note that collectively they represent nearly 170 million Americans, and that their constituents reside in every region of the country.

In a joint statement the governors said, “We are standing with all people who believe in reproductive freedom and health care. We are standing with them to say, ‘enough.’

“In the last year alone, over 36 million women have lost access to critical health care with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Medication abortion — one of the safest forms of health care for decades now — may be stripped from our clinics and hospitals nationwide,” they continued. “Doctors face criminal prosecution for providing care. Extremists are trying to restrict access to contraception — and we know they won’t stop there.

“In the face of this unprecedented assault by states hostile to abortion rights and their enablers in the courts, we are pledging to work together to strengthen abortion firewalls across America. This fight isn’t over,” they said.

The founding members are Inslee, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Delaware Gov. John Carney, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee, and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.

Major funding for the alliance is provided by the California Wellness Foundation with additional support from the Rosenberg Foundation.

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