Planned Parenthood Votes and Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina Announce Historic $5 Million 2022 Midterm Electoral Program

The investment will be strategically used to protect abortion access in the state by electing Cheri Beasley to the U.S. Senate, defending two North Carolina Supreme Court seats, and preventing an anti-abortion rights supermajority in the General Assembly

NORTH CAROLINA — With 32 days until the 2022 midterm election and absentee voting already underway, Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations in North Carolina announced a historic $5 million electoral program to support reproductive health and rights champions up and down the ballot in the Tar Heel State. 

A joint effort already underway by Planned Parenthood Votes and Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina, the program will reach over 340,000 North Carolinians in 14 target legislative districts through canvassing, phone banking, mailing, paid advertisements, and radio.  

Abortion access hangs by a thread in North Carolina, and the stakes couldn’t be higher — both for patients in the state and for people in the surrounding region who are forced to flee their own states where abortion is already banned. Already, North Carolina is a critical access point for patients from nearby states including Georgia, where abortion is banned after about six weeks, and Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, where abortion is completely outlawed.

Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina’s chief priority this cycle is preventing an anti-abortion rights supermajority in the General Assembly with a focus on five State Senate races: SD 3, SD 7, SD 17, SD 18, and SD 42. Right now, Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto power is the critical backstop protecting North Carolina from becoming the next state to ban abortion. If anti-abortion politicians gain a supermajority in the state legislature, they will have the votes to override Gov. Cooper’s veto and cut off essential health care access for millions of North Carolinians and others who turn to the state for care.

Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina will also prioritize protecting two critical seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court, which is the last line of defense to protect democracy.

Statement from Emily Thompson, Deputy Director, Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina:  

“Reproductive freedom is on the ballot in North Carolina, and the leaders we elect will play a critical role in determining our ability to control our own bodies and access life-saving health care throughout the entire southeast region. If we don’t elect reproductive rights champions in five key state senate races, an anti-abortion supermajority will have the votes to ban abortion in North Carolina. And if we don’t defend two critical North Carolina Supreme Court seats, we will lose our last line of defense to protect democracy. With less than 40 days until Election Day, Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations are working nonstop to ensure North Carolinians know which candidates have committed to protecting their rights and which want to roll back the clock.”

Planned Parenthood Votes will work to elect Planned Parenthood Action Fund-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley, a champion for reproductive freedom who will be a critical vote to restore abortion rights at the federal level by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act and supporting judges who recognize our constitutional right to bodily autonomy.

As a U.S. Representative from North Carolina, Beasley’s opponent, Ted Budd, co-sponsored a nationwide abortion ban last month and could be the deciding vote to ban abortion in all 50 states if elected to the U.S. Senate this November. Budd called protecting abortion access “disgusting” and says he is “100% pro-life, no matter how you measure.” He even opposes exceptions in cases of of rape, incest, and to save the life of the pregnant person.

The electoral program in North Carolina is part of “Take Control,” a national campaign by Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations to protect reproductive rights across the country. The investment marks the largest-ever electoral program in the groups’ history.

Next Friday, October 14 is the deadline to register to vote in North Carolina. Absentee voting began on September 9; early voting begins October 20 and runs through November 5; and Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day.

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

Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina is an independent expenditure political action committee registered with the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Advocacy for/against federal candidates paid for by Planned Parenthood Votes, 123 William St, NY NY 10038. Advocacy for/against North Carolina candidates paid for by Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina. Not paid for or authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.