With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to overturn or dismantle Roe v. Wade, today Governor Whitmer is taking historic action to protect Michigan women and families by filing a lawsuit and exercising her executive authority to immediately ensure abortion stays safe and legal in Michigan.
Reproductive rights in Michigan are among the most at risk in the nation. A currently dormant law from 1931 that remains on the books criminalizes abortion, makes felons out of reproductive health care providers, and provides no exceptions for rape or incest. Anti-choice advocates have touted the law as the most restrictive in the country, and it would immediately go back into effect if Roe v. Wade gets overturned nationally.
Governors will be the last line of defense against drastic and dangerous abortion bans that would impact millions of Michigan women, yet the 12 Republicans fighting for the spot are standing against Michigan women and families as they push to take away the right to abortion:
- During his campaign kickoff event, Perry Johnson “declined to rule out banning abortions for survivors of sexual assault” when asked where he stands on protecting reproductive rights in Michigan. He then doubled-down on his anti-choice extremism, even in cases of rape or incest, saying, “Two wrongs don’t make a right. I am pro-life.”
- Garrett Soldano stated that women who are raped should not be able to have abortions because “God put them in this moment” and it would make them “heroic.” He’s referred to himself as “unapologetically pro-life” and suggested that fake crisis pregnancy centers that use manipulative tactics to push an anti-choice agenda should receive taxpayer funding.
- James Craig – who backed up Soldano’s callous statement – has already said he would employ whatever means necessary to ensure Michigan immediately reverts to a severely restrictive, near-total abortion ban from 1931 that makes no exceptions for rape or incest, criminalizes abortion, and makes reproductive health care providers felons should Roe v. Wade get struck down.
- Also a staunch supporter of the 1931 ban that remains on the books in Michigan, Tudor Dixon has plainly stated that she would was against all exceptions to abortion, even when the health of the mother was at risk.
- Kevin Rinke also made a dangerous commitment to enforce Michigan’s extreme 1931 ban on abortion, saying that “as governor, I’m going to enforce that law of the land.”
MDP spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite issued the following statement:
“Perry Johnson, Garrett Soldano, James Craig, Kevin Rinke, and Tudor Dixon have led the messy and crowded pack of Republicans running for governor with their dangerous support for rolling back access to reproductive health care. Michiganders deserve a leader like Governor Whitmer, who has been a champion for women and reproductive rights and has with this lawsuit once again proven that she will stand against attempts to strip them to ensure abortion access remains intact.”
