As Donald Trump promises to let “the states control” abortion, Republicans’ playbook is to move their MAGA agenda through the states.
WASHINGTON — The Iowa Supreme Court just ruled in favor of a devastating 6-week abortion ban, passed by the GOP legislature last year. This extreme restriction is wildly out of step with a majority of Iowans who support abortion access. Most women don’t know they’re pregnant at 6 weeks, yet Republican lawmakers in Iowa and across the country continue their crusade to undermine life-saving care and to control the lives of women. Iowa joins a list of 17 other GOP-led states with extreme abortion bans, including near-total bans and bans at six weeks or less.
Last night during the presidential debate, Trump reiterated his promise that “the states control” abortion – making the balance of power in state legislatures more important this cycle than ever before. Republican state legislatures have wielded their power to attack all aspects of reproductive freedom – from abortion, to contraception, to IVF. Electing Democratic majorities is the strongest path for protecting reproductive health care, and the DLCC stands with Iowa Democrats as they work to build power and combat dangerous, unchecked Republican extremism.
A second Trump term combined with GOP-controlled state legislatures across the country would be catastrophic for our fundamental freedoms and rights.
The best defense against Republicans’ assault on reproductive freedoms is to elect Democrats to state legislatures.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Today is a dark day for Iowans as they wake up with fewer rights because of extreme Republicans who are dead set on attacking abortion access. This extreme 6-week ban is a slap in the face to women and families whose health care will be compromised. Time and time again, we’ve seen Republicans have weaponized the Dobbs decision to pass extreme and dangerous restrictions on essential reproductive care in the states. What’s worse: State Republicans will only feel more empowered to strip away abortion access as Donald Trump continues to promise to leave decisions around abortion and contraceptive access to the states. There has never been a more important time to invest in state legislatures and elect Democrats to combat MAGA extremism. We know Republicans’ playbook is to run their extreme agenda through the states. We can’t leave anything to chance this election – our fundamental rights are at stake.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. 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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