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Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Condemns Senator Joni Ernst’s Attempts to Have it Both Ways on SCOTUS, Roe v. Wade
For Immediate Release: September 29, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
During last night’s first U.S. Senate debate in Iowa, anti-choice, anti-freedom incumbent Senator Joni Ernst demonstrated just how out-of-touch she is with the majority of Iowans, attacking NARAL-endorsed Democratic nominee Theresa Greenfield for her support of reproductive freedom. A large majority (70%) of Iowa voters agree with Greenfield, and believe that abortion should be legal, and that the government should not prevent a woman from making that decision for herself.
However, in the same breath as these attacks, Sen. Ernst said “I think the likelihood of Roe v. Wade being overturned is very minimal. I don’t see that happening.” Why would Sen. Ernst minimize the damage Trump’s Supreme Court pick could have on the future of reproductive freedom?
NARAL Pro-Choice America National Communications Director Kristin Ford released the following statement:
“This is a clear ploy by Senator Ernst and the Republican Party to have their cake and eat it too. Senator Ernst is attempting to downplay her extremism on abortion in order to get re-elected in a state that supports reproductive freedom, while she simultaneously works to ram through yet another anti-freedom, anti-choice nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court—even as Americans are beginning to cast their ballots. Instead of taking a stand for our democracy or putting the values of her constituents ahead of political expediency, Sen. Ernst is trying to have it both ways, even in the midst of this attempted hijacking of the Supreme Court. Thankfully, voters aren’t buying it.”
Let’s be clear: What Sen. Ernst is scared to answer is what the end of Roe v. Wade would look like for Iowans. If abortion bans are upheld by the Supreme Court, how will they be enforced? Will people be thrown in jail for having an abortion or miscarriage? What kind of interrogation would somebody be subjected to in order to investigate how a pregnancy ended? Would somebody who had an abortion or who experienced a pregnancy loss serve jail time for it?
We need a real champion for reproductive freedom in the U.S. Senate. NARAL Pro-Choice America is proud to endorse that champion, Theresa Greenfield, to unseat Sen. Ernst. This race is crucial to flipping the U.S. Senate and protecting and expanding reproductive freedom, and Greenfield will add a crucial voice to the Senate to ensure reproductive freedom is for every body.
NARAL Pro-Choice America is in the midst of our largest-ever electoral program designed to reach, persuade, and mobilize key voters, including Iowans who are motivated by Senator Ernst’s betrayal of their values and Trump and Republicans’ unyielding attacks on reproductive freedom. Come November, NARAL and its 2.5 million members are ready to vote out Donald Trump, flip the Senate, and hold senators like Senator Ernst accountable.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters have fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom—including access to abortion, contraception, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 7 in 10 Americans who believe every person should have the freedom to make the best decision for themselves about if, when, and how to raise a family.