Lawmakers across the country are speaking out about the leaked draft from the Supreme Court released by Politico on Monday, which suggests the nation’s highest court is considering overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion.
The official ruling on the case isn’t expected until June or July, but numerous lawmakers have condemned the draft, saying it creates catastrophic consequences for millions of Americans, while others want to prosecute the person or people who leaked the draft.
The report suggesting the reversal of the near-50-year-old ruling would mean abortion rights would no longer be federally protected, and instead let states decide what abortion restrictions or bans it wants to enforce. As of Tuesday, 22 states already have bans or could ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturnedaccording to the Guttmacher Institute.
Since Monday night, governors across the country have voiced their reactions to the leak, including 16 governors who wrote a letter to Congress, asking for laws protecting abortion rights to be put in place immediately. Here’s what most have had to say or tweeted about the possible overturn on one of the nation’s most divisive issues:
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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey
Ivey tweeted on Monday night the leak was “a blatant attempt to manipulate the sacred procedures of the US Supreme Court,” but hopes Roe v. Wade will be overturned. The state has a pre-Roe abortion ban.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson
Hutchinson tweeted he has advocated for the reversal of Roe v. Wade his entire political career, and hoped “the court returns authority to the states,” but said an investigation is needed into who leaked the opinion draft. Arkansas has a “trigger law” that would ban abortions if the ruling is overturned.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
In a statement with Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Newsom said California “will not stand idly by as women across America are stripped of their rights and the progress so many have fought for gets erased. We will fight.”
Newsom also tweeted abortion rights will be protected in California no matter what decision made by the Supreme Court.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis
Polis tweeted on Monday night the news was disappointing and Colorado will continue to “remains a state where freedom is respected and where any person has the ability to live, work, thrive, and raise a family on their own terms.” The state protects abortions right throughout pregnancy.
Conn. Gov. Ned Lamont
Lamont said in a statement he is committing to signing a bill recently approved by both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly that will “protect medical providers and patients seeking abortion care.”
“As soon as this bill is transmitted to my office, I will sign it into law,” he said.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp
Kemp tweeted on Tuesday Georgia will remain a state that “values life at all stages” and will fight to have the strongest pro-life laws in the country. Georgia currently bans abortions after six weeks.
Secret deliberations: Supreme Court deliberations are supposed to be secret. So how did a draft abortion opinion leak?
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
Pritzker said in a statement he condemned the leak and said “abortion will always be safe and legal here in Illinois” no matter the ruling in June.
“In Illinois, we trust women. We cannot let their most profound and personal rights be violated,” I have tweeted.
Iowa Gov. kim reynolds
Reynolds tweeted on Tuesday that the state is “fighting to defend the most important freedom there is: the right to life.” Like Georgia, Iowa has a six-week ban on abortions.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills
Mills said in a statement said she doesn’t consider women’s rights to be “dispensable” and will fight for reproductive rights in the state.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker
Baker said on Twitter the possible overturned would be “a massive setback” for women in states without abortion protection laws, and Massachusetts will “always protect women’s rights.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Whitmer said she is going to “fight like hell” to protect abortion rights in Michigan. She was one of the 16 governors to sign a letter to Congress to enact laws protecting abortion rights.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Walz shared the Politico article on Twittertweeting “not on my watch.”
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves
Reeves compared abortion laws in the US to China and North Korea, and said “countless lives can be saved” if the Supreme Court overturns the ruling. Mississippi also has a trigger ban, as well as pre-Roe ban on abortions.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte
Gianforte said in a statement the leak is an effort to undermine the integrity of the Supreme Court and hopes the decision will be put on state governors.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak
Sisolak tweeted on Monday night the state is committed to protecting reproductive rights.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy
Murphy said in a statement the Supreme Court decision will have no impact on New Jersey’s reproductive rights, and said Congress must pass legislation to protect those rights.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Grisham said in a statement she was “outraged and horrified,” saying the decision would be devastating for women across the country. She added the state will continue to protect reproductive rights.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul
Hochul said the State of New York “will always be there for anyone who needs reproductive healthcare, including an abortion,” including those not living in New York.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper
One of the governors who signed the letter to Congress, Cooper said on Twitter it is his responsibility “to defend access to reproductive health care and a woman’s right to make her own decisions.”
North Dakota Gov. Douglas Burgum
Burgum said his administration supports pro-life legislation and welcomes the decision to be made by state leaders.
Oklahoma Gov. kevin stitt
Stitt said he signed SB 1503, also known as the Oklahoma Heartbeat Act, into law on Tuesday.
“I want Oklahoma to be the most pro-life state in the country because I represent all four million Oklahomans who overwhelmingly want to protect the unborn,” I have tweeted.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown
brown tweeted all Americans should have access to abortion rights and it will be protected by state law regardless of the Supreme Court ruling.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tim Wolf
Wolf said in a statement the possible overturn of Roe v. Wade “is an assault on the right to access safe, legal abortion services” and abortion access will be legal as long as he is governor.
Rhode Island Gov. dan mckee
Another governor who signed the letter to Congress, McKee said “Here in Rhode Island, we stand firmly in defense of a woman’s right to choose.” I have also tweeted “we will NOT go backwards on reproductive rights.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristy Noem
Noem tweeted if Roe v. Wade is overturned, she will call a special session “to save lives and guarantee that every unborn child has a right to life in South Dakota,” as the state has a trigger ban in place.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee
Read said in a statement he is concerned by the leak and “any attempt to thwart justice.” If Roe v. Wade is overturned, he added the state will automatically provide protection, resources and care for mothers and children, as the state has a trigger law in place.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox
In a joint statement with Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, Cox said “While we are encouraged and optimistic at the possibility that abortion law will be left to the duly elected representatives of the states, draft rulings are not actual rulings and leaked drafts are a dangerous violation of court protocol and deliberations.”
The statement noted that Utah has already passed legislation that would ban elective abortions in the state in the case that Roe v. Wade is overturned, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott
Scott shared in a statement on Twitter that lawmakers in the state have already “enacted a law that affirms the fundamental rights of all women and ensures reproductive health decisions remain between a woman and her health care provider — totally free from government interference.”
“This will remain true in Vermont regardless of what happens with the Supreme Court,” he added.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
Youngkin told reporters on Tuesday that “I believe that the state should be able to take on this responsibility. I do believe, just like in determining what our education budget should be, what our funding for law enforcement should be, how we handle our taxes at the state level – those are state decisions,” The Washington Post reported.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee
Inslee tweeted on Monday “Washington is and will remain pro-choice. And we will not slow down in the fight to ensure safe, affordable access to every person who needs it.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers
One of the lead authors of the letter to Congress, Evers said abortion is still legal in Wisconsin and he will veto any legislation brought to him that would “threaten access to healthcare.”
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism