BREAKING: Murphy’s win marks new era of progress for New Jersey women
 

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND OF NEW JERSEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

November 7, 2017

Contact: Casey Olesko 201.647.5502 / [email protected]

BREAKING: Murphy’s win marks new era of progress for New Jersey women

After eight years of cuts to women’s health funding, New Jersey voters elect a governor who will stand with Planned Parenthood

ASBURY PARK, NJ — After more than 900 volunteer hours logged, nearly 5,000 dials made during phone banks, millions of social media ad impressions and emails delivered to supporters’ inboxes, and thousands of leaflets and conversations shared at train stations and volunteer house parties across the state, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey’s (PPAFNJ’s) get out the vote efforts paid off. New Jersey voters have elected Phil Murphy, a leader who will stand up for women’s health.

Planned Parenthood and family planning funding was a defining issue this election. For the past eight years, New Jersey has had a governor who proudly cut funding for preventive reproductive health care services, like cancer screenings, birth control and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases — leading the state into a public health crisis. Since 2009, there has been a 35 percent increase in cases of bacterial STDs, and an increase in breast and cervical cancer cases with a disproportionate impact on communities of color.

These threats at home, combined with the continuous efforts by Congress and the Trump administration to restrict access to health care, made the choice clear. New Jersey women wanted a governor who would defend their access to affordable, quality care.

“Murphy won on a strong campaign promise,” said Christine Sadovy, political and legislative director with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. “Throughout his campaign, he never backed down from standing up for women’s health and with Planned Parenthood.”

From the very start of his campaign, Murphy made it crystal clear that he stands with Planned Parenthood. He took every opportunity to discuss his commitment to women’s health. Not only did he publicly state that restoring Planned Parenthood funding was at the top of his priority list the very next day after he won the primary election, he also pledged to work to fill the gap left by eight consecutive years of lost funding.

Throughout the election, hundreds of PPAFNJ supporters from all across New Jersey took incredible action: writing letters to the editor, hosting house parties with friends, attending rallies, making thousands of phone calls, and talking to hundreds of commuters at canvasses across the state. More statistics on PPAFNJ’s efforts during this election cycle can be found in an infographic format here.

PPAFNJ looks forward to working with Governor-Elect Murphy to ensure that access to women’s health care is protected and doesn’t depend on a person’s income or zip code.

“New Jersey should be a leader when it comes to reproductive health,” said Sadovy. “Our supporters will continue to take action in 2018 and beyond to make women’s rights and health a priority.”