WASHINGTON — Abortions will soon be banned after six weeks of pregnancy in Florida following a devastating ruling from the state supreme court. Florida is the latest in a string of Republican-controlled states to enact a dangerous near-total abortion ban. Most women don’t know they’re pregnant at 6 weeks, yet Florida Republicans’ dangerous legislation will become law within 30 days.
Florida’s abortion ban is the latest in a slew of dangerous proposals from Republicans across the country who are hellbent on attacking reproductive freedoms. As the DLCC outlined in a memo last month, twenty-five states – all controlled by Republican legislatures – have enacted laws to ban or restrict abortion earlier than the standard previously protected by Roe. Florida is among the battlegrounds for abortion rights in 2024, and there’s momentum after State Representative Tom Keen’s victory earlier this year in defeating a MAGA extremist and flipping a legislative seat in the Florida House.
Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell issued the following statement:
“Extremist politicians and activist judges have spoken loud and clear: they think they know better than us, and they think they should control our personal freedoms. Florida is now home to one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country, and we must speak up and draw a bright line between out-of-touch politicians and what should be a personal and private medical decision made without government interference.
“The majority of Floridians already agree that this decision must stay between women and their doctors – over one million have already signed a petition to protect abortion access. I have no doubt that Florida voters will come out in force to make their voices heard on Election Day.”
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Florida’s ban on abortion after six weeks is a devastating blow to women across the South. This grim new reality highlights the dangers of unchecked Republican control of state legislatures. Florida Republicans who passed this near-total abortion ban own the deadly consequences of this new law. While we mourn today, we must mobilize tomorrow and leading into Election Day for a brighter future where fundamental freedoms are protected in Florida. We will continue working to elect champions of reproductive justice and building Democratic power in state legislatures across the country.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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