Democratic Presidential Candidates Denied Opportunity to Talk About Abortion at Democratic Debate

PLANNED PARENTHOOD VOTES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 19, 2020
CONTACT: Planned Parenthood Votes Media Office; 212-261-4433; [email protected]
Planned Parenthood Votes Pressroom

Las Vegas, NV — Days before the Nevada caucuses and only two weeks before Super Tuesday, the presidential candidates at tonight’s debate were denied the opportunity to outline their plan to protect and expand access to reproductive health care, including safe, legal abortion.

The exclusion of sexual and reproductive health care at tonight’s debate comes as the Trump administration has increased its attacks on reproductive rights over the past few weeks, and as the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments next month in a case that could render the protections of Roe v. Wade meaningless.

Statement from Jenny Lawson, executive director, Planned Parenthood Votes:

“The exclusion of abortion from the national conversation, just days before the Nevada caucuses, does a severe disservice to voters. While there is a world of difference between Trump and the Democratic presidential candidates on reproductive health and rights, there is too much at stake to ignore this issue. Now is the time for candidates to lay out their plans to not just protect, but expand our reproductive health and rights should they become our next president."

Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations will make a historic investment of at least $45 million in key battleground states during the 2020 cycle. In October, Planned Parenthood Votes released a new “Candidate Spotlight” tool that details the presidential candidates’ stances on birth control, abortion access, reproductive health care, and more.

In November, elections in Virginia and Kentucky proved that voters are tired of fear-mongering and misleading rhetoric about abortion, and are excited to cast their ballots for champions of reproductive freedom.

Background: Reproductive health is a top issue for voters in the 2020 election — and has been a winning issue for candidates.

• A record-high 77 percent of Americans say they do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned, and there is no state in this country where making abortion illegal is popular.
• A recent Kaiser Health News survey showed that the majority of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents believed that “Democratic candidates for president are spending too little time talking about women’s health care.”
• Democrats and independent voters said they are more likely to support a candidate for president who supports rights and access to abortion.

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Planned Parenthood Votes is an independent expenditure political committee registered with the Federal Election Commission.