The Minnesota Democrat Farmer Laborer Party (DFL) released a statement on Friday criticizing all the Republican gubernatorial candidates for their stances on abortion, saying “Abortion rights are under attack at the national level.” The DFL was referencing the Supreme Court case, Dobbs v. Jackson, where the state of Mississippi is challenging Roe v. Wade.
The statement from the Minnesota DFL said Minnesota is “one vote away from completely gutting abortion rights.”
Ken Martin, the chair of the Minnesota DFL said, “Minnesota Republicans have made it clear that if one of their far-right, anti-abortion candidates for governor wins in 2022, they will move swiftly to enact an abortion ban against the wishes of a large majority of Minnesotans. Scott Jensen, Michelle Benson, and Paul Gazelka love to talk about medical freedom but want to force women to have unwanted or medically dangerous pregnancies. To stop that from happening, it is essential that DFLers win up and down the ballot in the upcoming midterm elections.”
This sentiment has been closely echoed by many of the state’s Democrat politicians. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan tweeted out saying that the abortion debate is “about racial and economic justice.” Flanagan continued, “Overturning Roe would limit safe and legal abortion for those who already lack access to reproductive health care. Our country cannot go backward.”
Sarah Stoesz is absolutely right – this is about racial and economic justice. Overturning Roe would limit safe and legal abortion for those who already lack access to reproductive health care. Our country cannot go backward.https://t.co/eNEDuZpC0n
— Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (@LtGovFlanagan) December 1, 2021
Representative Angie Craig (D-MN-02) said Roe v. Wade has been a “settled law” for over five decades, tweeting, “Outlawing abortions doesn’t prevent them from happening – it only stops them from happening safely. We cannot allow reproductive rights to be rolled back any further in this country.”
Roe v. Wade has been settled law for nearly 50 years. Outlawing abortions doesn’t prevent them from happening – it only stops them from happening safely. We cannot allow reproductive rights to be rolled back any further in this country. https://t.co/d73SZJmgUY
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) December 1, 2021
Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) spoke out as well, saying that overturning Roe would end Minnesotans’ “freedom” to get an abortion.
What’s happening today is the Supreme Court is hearing arguments for ending Roe and people’s freedom to get an abortion.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) December 1, 2021
Representative Betty McCollum called the Supreme Court case an “unprecedented attack on the constitutional right to reproductive freedom threatens our right to live with autonomy, dignity, [and] equality.”
Today SCOTUS will consider a case dealing with Mississippi's abortion ban that DIRECTLY challenges Roe v. Wade. This unprecedented attack on the constitutional right to reproductive freedom threatens our right to live with autonomy, dignity, & equality. #AbortionIsEssential (1/2) pic.twitter.com/uXhqDh1miU
— Rep. Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) December 1, 2021
– – –
Hayley Feland is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ken Martin” by Ken Martin. Background Photo “Pro-Choice Protest” by Jordan Uhl CC BY 2.0.
