Des Moines, IA— Politicians who want to ban abortion won enough races to maintain their control of the legislature, putting abortion access in danger. Even with Iowa Senate President and vocal abortion opponent Jake Chapman and Iowa Rep. Garrett Gobble, an Ankeny incumbent who supported restricting abortion access, both losing their races to reproductive rights champions, Sarah Trone Garriott and Heather Matson, the wins do not change the balance of power in Des Moines.
When politicians who want to outlaw abortion take office in January, Iowans will see increased attacks to health care and bodily autonomy, teeing up a legislative session that will determine the future of abortion access in Iowa for generations to come.
“With politicians who want to ban abortion continuing to hold power, Iowans are on high alert,” said Mazie Stilwell, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa Director of Public Affairs. “We will fight every step of the way to protect our rights and our health care.”
The U.S. and Iowa Supreme Courts gave state politicians control of people’s bodies when they overturned federal and state abortion protections. Currently, 17 states have banned or have near total bans on abortions.
Gov. Kim Reynolds avoided talking about her unpopular stance on abortion while campaigning, instead punting the issue to the courts, asking them to reinstate a six-week abortion ban that was blocked by the same court three years ago.
Thousands of Iowans have become Planned Parenthood volunteers, donated money, and worked to elect Planned Parenthood champions to office since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June.
“We are in for a long fight to protect and expand sexual and reproductive health care in Iowa. We’ve faced tough challenges before, and we will have more ahead of us. But we’re never backing down,” Stilwell said.
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa (PPAI) PAC, established in 1998, is an independent, nonpartisan political action committee focused on supporting candidates for state and local office who are steadfast in their support for women’s health, health care access, and reproductive rights.
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