Planned
Parenthood Votes! RI sees last night’s election as a major victory
Rhode
Island voters once again demonstrated
strong support for reproductive freedom, including safe, legal abortion, by
electing both local and statewide candidates who will fight the fundamental
freedom of bodily autonomy.
“These results show that Rhode
Island voters support candidates who are proud champions of reproductive
freedom.
All five statewide General Officers support passing a law to put the protection of Roe v Wade into Rhode Island statute,” said Amanda Skinner, PPV!RI PAC member and CEO of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island (PPV! RI).
“Governor Raimondo and a majority of House and Senate members are committed to passing the Reproductive Health Care Act and protecting the reproductive freedom of Rhode Islanders, including access to safe, legal abortion, from the attacks by President [Donald] Trump and his allies in Congress.”
All five statewide General Officers support passing a law to put the protection of Roe v Wade into Rhode Island statute,” said Amanda Skinner, PPV!RI PAC member and CEO of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island (PPV! RI).
“Governor Raimondo and a majority of House and Senate members are committed to passing the Reproductive Health Care Act and protecting the reproductive freedom of Rhode Islanders, including access to safe, legal abortion, from the attacks by President [Donald] Trump and his allies in Congress.”
Thanks to the hard work and endless
energy of many amazing candidates, along with Planned Parenthood
activists and donors, we elected 44 PPV!RI
PAC-endorsed champions of reproductive freedom to the Rhode Island General Assembly –
by far the most in our history (31 in House and 13 in Senate).
In addition to the 32 incumbents who won re-election, we have 12 new voices at the State House for reproductive rights. The number of women in the Rhode Island General Assembly grew as well, to a record 42, including 16 in the Senate and 26 in the House. These results are based on unofficial results.
In addition to the 32 incumbents who won re-election, we have 12 new voices at the State House for reproductive rights. The number of women in the Rhode Island General Assembly grew as well, to a record 42, including 16 in the Senate and 26 in the House. These results are based on unofficial results.
PPV!RI PAC-endorsed Governor Gina Raimondo reiterated her
support for the Reproductive Health Care Act, saying, “I’ve worked hard to
ensure that nearly every Rhode Islander has health coverage, and I’ve stood up
with advocates in support of the Reproductive Health Care Act. Planned
Parenthood and women across Rhode Island played an important part in tonight’s
victory. The people of Rhode Island have spoken and said clearly, ‘keep
bringing the change that Rhode Island needs.’”
“There is a clear mandate to pass
the Reproductive Health Care Act,” said Craig
O’Connor, Chair of PPV!RI PAC. “On October 14, polling showed 71 percent
of Rhode Islanders support a law to protect safe, legal abortion.
Tonight, Rhode Island voters confirmed that support. There are now more than
enough votes in the General Assembly to pass the Reproductive Health Care Act,
and we expect House and Senate leadership to hold a vote on this critical
legislation in 2019.”
“In 2016, voters chose nine new
champions of reproductive freedom for the General Assembly. In the two special
elections for State Senate since then, the winners were both women who ran as
proud, pro-choice candidates and beat opponents who oppose reproductive
freedom,” said Doree Goodman,
Chair of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island.
“We look forward to the 2019 General Assembly session and working with our allies on expanding access to reproductive health care, including safe, legal abortion, family planning services and comprehensive sexual health education.”
“We look forward to the 2019 General Assembly session and working with our allies on expanding access to reproductive health care, including safe, legal abortion, family planning services and comprehensive sexual health education.”
“In 2019, there will be more women
in the General Assembly than ever before,” said Senator-elect Bridget Valverde, a PPV!RI
PAC-endorsed Democrat who won her first term as state Senator from District 35
(East Greenwich, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Narragansett).
“We will lead the fight to pass the Reproductive Health Care Act to protect reproductive freedom, to end workplace sexual harassment, to raise the minimum wage and ensure equal pay. I am proud to have earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC.”
“We will lead the fight to pass the Reproductive Health Care Act to protect reproductive freedom, to end workplace sexual harassment, to raise the minimum wage and ensure equal pay. I am proud to have earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC.”
“Planned Parenthood, our patients,
staff and thousands of Rhode Island activists and donors are especially excited
to see so many women step up to run – and win,” added Skinner. “We need the
strong leadership of Governor Raimondo and our endorsed candidates.
For the last two years, the four Democrats who control the Rhode Island General Assembly, all men, have refused to protect reproductive freedom, including access to safe, legal abortion. In 2019, we call on the Assembly to listen to the voice of the people and pass the Reproductive Health Care Act.”
For the last two years, the four Democrats who control the Rhode Island General Assembly, all men, have refused to protect reproductive freedom, including access to safe, legal abortion. In 2019, we call on the Assembly to listen to the voice of the people and pass the Reproductive Health Care Act.”
The need to act in Rhode Island is
clear. NARAL Pro-Choice America gave
Rhode Island an F rating in 2016 – the same grade as Texas, South Carolina and
Oklahoma.
The Rhode Island state constitution says, in its section on equal protection and due process, that “Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant or secure any right relating to abortion or the funding thereof.”
The Rhode Island state constitution says, in its section on equal protection and due process, that “Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant or secure any right relating to abortion or the funding thereof.”
The Trump Administration, and its
allies in Congress, have waged an assault on reproductive freedom for years.
Their efforts include attempts to defund Planned Parenthood by stripping away
protections for contraceptive coverage under the Affordable
Care Act; instituting a domestic “gag rule” on Title X, the nation’s
program for affordable birth control and reproductive health care, and
installing Brett Kavanaugh on the
United States Supreme Court, creating the frightening possibility of Supreme
Court rulings that will narrow or overturn Roe v Wade.
The Trump Administration has
attacked not only reproductive rights but is a threat to civil rights for
people of color, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community and more.
“Today, Rhode Island voters made
their support for reproductive freedom clear. We fully expect the Rhode Island
General Assembly to respect the voters of this state and pass the Reproductive
Health Care Act. We are excited about these new pro-women’s health candidates
who will be vocal leaders in the General Assembly this year and work to improve
the NARAL score,” O’Connor said.
“We are confident these champions of reproductive freedom will work to preserve and expand access to full reproductive health care services for the people of Rhode Island.”
“We are confident these champions of reproductive freedom will work to preserve and expand access to full reproductive health care services for the people of Rhode Island.”