Abortion Rights Win In Rhode Island as Voters Elect Champions to Pass the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act in 2023
Contact: Email: [email protected] Phone: 203-901-0283
For Immediate Release: Nov. 9, 2022
Providence, RI —Yesterday, Rhode Islanders went to the polls and elected 60 Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC-endorsed candidates, including Governor Dan McKee, Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, and Attorney General Peter Neronha, along with Rhode Island’s next Secretary of State Gregg Amore and new General Treasurer James Diossa. These victories are a critical step towards achieving important policy changes next year, including finally passing the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA) to eliminate existing abortion bans and add coverage for abortion in Rhode Island’s Medicaid program.
“These election results are a win for abortion rights and Rhode Island voters have made it clear that politicians have no place in personal medical decisions,” said Gretchen Raffa, Vice-President of Public Policy, Advocacy, and Organizing for Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island (PPV!RI) and Treasurer of PPV!RI PAC. “We are the majority. When abortion is on the ballot, reproductive freedom wins. As we celebrate this victory with our volunteers and supporters across the state, we know there is more to do. With our coalition partners, we are ready to get to work with Governor McKee, House Leadership, and all elected champions in the General Assembly to pass the EACA next session,” Raffa commented.
Rhode Islanders clearly believe all people deserve privacy in their personal medical decisions, including abortion, as well as access to resources to make those decisions. The EACA will help ensure cost is not a barrier to abortion care, giving more Rhode Islanders the power to determine their own lives and futures.
In Congress, Planned Parenthood Action Fund-endorsed candidates, U.S. Representative David Cicilline (RI-01) and Representative-Elect Seth Magaziner (RI-02), won their elections and will each be an important vote in Congress to help pass national abortion rights protections.
“Reproductive freedom proved to be one of the defining issues in this election, said Amanda Skinner, President of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island and member of PPV!RI PAC. “By sending Representative Cicilline and Representative-Elect Magaziner to Congress, Rhode Island will have representatives in Washington who can fight back against efforts to pass a national abortion ban and focus on legislation that protects and expands access to reproductive health care, including abortion,” Skinner noted.
The people of Rhode Island want the right to make their own decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures. These victories will keep Rhode Island moving forward with the progress made protecting and expanding access to reproductive health care—including abortion. PPV!RI and elected champions will keep fighting for equitable access to sexual and reproductive health care for all people in the Ocean State who rely on Planned Parenthood.
Congratulations to the 2022 PPV!RI PAC-Endorsed General Election Winners:
General Officers
Governor Dan McKee*
Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos*
Secretary of State Gregg Amore
Attorney General Peter Neronha*
General Treasurer James Diossa
Senate
Sam Zurier* (District 3)
Samuel Bell* (District 5)
Tiara Mack* (District 6)
Sandra Cano* (District 8)
Linda Ujifusa (District 11)
Dawn Euer* (District 13)
Valarie Lawson* (District 14)
Meghan Kallman* (District 15)
Jonathon Acosta* (District 16)
Ryan Pearson* (District 19)
Melissa Murray* (District 24)
Joshua Miller* (District 28)
Mark McKenney (District 30)
Matthew LaMountain (District 31)
Pamela Lauria (District 32)
Bridget Valverde* (District 35)
Alana DiMario* (District 36)
V. Susan Sosnowski* (District 37)
Victoria Gu (District 38)
House of Representatives
Edith H. Ajello* (District 1)
Christopher Blazejewski* (District 2)
Rebecca Kislak* (District 4)
David Morales* (District 7)
John J. Lombardi* (District 8)
Jose F. Batista* (District 12)
Brandon Potter* (District 16)
Arthur Handy* (District 18)
Joseph M. McNamara* (District 19)
David A. Bennett* (District 20)
K. Joseph Shekarchi* (District 23)
Evan P. Shanley* (District 24)
Justine Caldwell* (District 30)
Julie A. Casimiro* (District 31)
Robert Craven* (District 32)
Carol Hagan McEntee* (District 33)
Teresa A. Tanzi* (District 34)
Kathleen A. Fogarty* (District 35)
Megan Cotter (District 39) **pending final mail ballot count
Joshua J. Giraldo* (District 56)
Brandon Voas (District 57)
Karen Alzate* (District 60)
Leonela Felix* (District 61)
Mary Duffy Messier* (District 62)
Katherine S. Kazarian* (District 63)
Brianna Henries* (District 64)
Matthew Dawson (District 65)
Jennifer Boylan (District 66)
Jason Knight* (District 67)
June Speakman* (District 68)
Susan R. Donovan* (District 69)
John G. Edwards* (District 70)
Michelle E. McGaw* (District 71)
Terri Cortvriend* (District 72)
Marvin L. Abney* (District 73)
Lauren H. Carson* (District 75)
* : incumbent
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Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC (PPV!RI PAC) is the state political action committee affiliated with Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island (PPV!RI). PPV!RI is the 501(c)(4) advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.