Amendment 2 Transcends Party Lines, Unites Kentuckians on Abortion Access

Louisville, KY - United behind support for abortion access, Kentucky voters send a clear message to lawmakers: When you prioritize reproductive rights, you win. Across the commonwealth people showed up to vote for reproductive champions, and say, “enough is enough – politics have no place in our private medical decisions.”

Congratulations to all the candidates Planned Parenthood Action Kentucky PAC endorsed—all fierce advocates for abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, bodily autonomy, and reproductive health care access. 

Statement from Tamarra Wieder, Kentucky State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates (PPAA):

“To every Kentuckian who fought for reproductive freedom this election cycle, this win is for you. Your work, your resilience, and your voice gave us the power to prove that the right to decide personal, private medical decisions is fundamental to our freedom and our democracy. 

“Earlier this year, extremist lawmakers turned their back on Kentuckians, and voted to strip us of our right to abortion. But tonight, Kentucky voters made it clear: We won't back down when politicians try to come for our right to control our own bodies and our futures. Widespread support for abortion redefined this election up and down the ballot. Together, we defeated Amendment 2, and together we will take back control of our state legislature.”

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund: 

“From California and Kentucky to Michigan and Vermont, voters came out in full force to defend their reproductive freedom this election, demanding once again the fundamental right to control their own lives, bodies, and futures. In the Bluegrass State, Kentuckians took to the polls and rejected an anti-abortion constitutional amendment that would have closed the door to restoring access to essential reproductive health care in the state. While abortion is still banned in Kentucky, Planned Parenthood’s legal challenge against the six-week and total bans continues. Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations are committed to doing everything possible to ensure Kentuckians no longer have to flee their state to access care. We are thankful to the Protect Kentucky Access coalition and to all the partners who banded together to mobilize, motivate, and educate Kentuckians of all backgrounds and protect their communities. They have made it resoundingly clear once again that voters don’t want politicians involved in their medical decisions or abortion bans in their state.”

In the last 5 years, PPAA Kentucky and Indiana has grown from 5,000 members to more than 185,000 strong. While sexual and reproductive health champions did not win every race in Kentucky, these victories will make a huge difference in securing access to abortion and protecting our rights at the state and federal level. 

Now and always, Planned Parenthood health centers' supportive medical experts in Kentucky are here to get people the care they need, even if it means helping them to navigate across state lines. Planned Parenthood provides a full range of lawful sexual and reproductive health care— including services like birth control, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screenings. 

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Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, Serving AK, HI, ID, IN, KY, WA (PPAA) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization educating residents and policymakers about reproductive health issues in Alaska, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky and Washington. PPAA lobbies and educates to advance Planned Parenthood's mission, and engages in limited electoral activities.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.