Planned Parenthood Advocates and Votes Endorse Reproductive Health Champion Nicole Galloway for Missouri Governor

MISSOURI - The advocacy and political arms of Planned Parenthood in Missouri today announced the endorsement of State Auditor Nicole Galloway for Missouri Governor. The endorsement follows historic wins for reproductive rights locally and nationally, including special state house elections in Missouri where pro-reproductive health candidates won five out of six seats, and in Virginia where these candidates flipped both legislative chambers.

These recent election results point to overwhelming momentum driving voters to the polls to protect reproductive freedom, and make a compelling argument that access to reproductive health care — including safe, legal abortion — is both a top issue heading into 2020 and a winning issue for candidates.

Statement from Yamelsie Rodríguez, President and CEO, Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri:

“Auditor Nicole Galloway is a proven champion of access to health care, including the full range of sexual and reproductive health care. In Missouri, abortion access is already hanging by a thread for 1.1 million women of reproductive age. Providing health care is meaningless if people cannot access it. The Parson administration has relentlessly attacked our health and rights, but Missourians won’t take these attacks anymore — and they’re looking to make their voices heard at the ballot box. That’s why we are thrilled to endorse Auditor Nicole Galloway for Governor, a candidate who will give voters a chance to put Missouri on the right track.”

Statement from Brandon Hill, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes:

“Auditor Nicole Galloway has proven that she can and will stand up to those who misuse government resources. Governor Parson has used every branch of Missouri government to carry out a political agenda aimed at eliminating access to reproductive health care, all while ignoring the state’s shamefully high rates of infant and maternal mortality. The Parson administration has put Missouri in the national headlines for all of the wrong reasons, and Missourians deserve a governor who will do what Nicole Galloway has demonstrated as auditor: serving as a powerful advocate for all Missourians and making thoughtful decisions based on facts and evidence to ensure our communities are healthier and safer. 

That’s why we’re proud to endorse Auditor Nicole Galloway for Governor in 2020.”

Since day one, Gov. Parson has put Missourians’ health, rights, and freedoms at risk:

• Governor Parson signed legislation to discriminate against patients who rely on publicly funded health care programs by blocking their access to birth control, cancer screenings, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing at Planned Parenthood health centers. 

• Governor Parson and Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams have weaponized the regulatory process to block the license for the last health center providing abortion in Missouri.

• Williams is behind Missouri’s requirement that patients undergo a medically unnecessary invasive pelvic exam before an abortion.

• Last week, Williams admitted he investigated menstrual cycles of Missouri women. 

• Governor Parson is the same man who signed into law one of the most extreme anti-abortion bills in the country—chock full of various abortion bans targeting all stages of pregnancy, all in one. 

The Parson administration’s attacks on birth control and abortion have spurred unprecedented resistance. It’s clear that access to reproductive health care — including safe, legal abortion — is a top issue heading into 2020. There has been massive public outcry from Missourians against these attacks on reproductive freedom:

• Hundreds of people disrupted the Missouri House of Representatives, delaying the passage of the abortion ban.

• Thousands demonstrated in Kansas City and St. Louis against the abortion ban.

• And thousands took to the street and some took direct action opposing Gov. Parson’s ploy to weaponize the inspections process in order to ban abortion. 

A record-high 77 percent of Americans say they do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned, and there is no state where banning abortion is popular. 

It’s clear that Gov. Parson’s attacks on reproductive freedom aren’t what Missourians need or want. Planned Parenthood Advocates and Votes know that Missourans can trust that Auditor Nicole Galloway to protect their right to access health care, including safe legal abortion, without government interference.

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