‘Unthinkable’ to ‘historic opportunity’: NC politicians react to the fall of Roe v. Wade
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Abortion in North Carolina
Republicans in the North Carolina state legislature passed a law that implements new abortion restrictions. What does that mean for access to abortion? Read coverage on the issue from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer.
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Reactions from across North Carolina are pouring in after the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that protected abortion as a constitutional right for nearly 50 years.
Friday’s ruling from a majority of the Supreme Court’s justices effectively sends the question of whether abortion should be legal back to the states, and multiple states are poised enact new bans on the procedure. North Carolina, where Republicans control the legislature but Democrat Roy Cooper is governor, isn’t expected to immediately see any new abortion restrictions, since GOP lawmakers expect Cooper to veto any bills they try to pass.
The News & Observer is tracking reactions from North Carolina political leaders as they come in. Refresh this story throughout the day for the latest comments.
Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a strong opponent of abortion, said he was “overjoyed” by the decision.
“I am overjoyed with the decision by our Supreme Court — for decades we have been praying for a day like today and it is finally here. I have experienced the pain of abortion in my own life and know the long-term effects it can have on families.
“That is a huge reason why I fight so hard for the life of the unborn. With this decision, our elected officials must act and protect our Justices from further attempts of intimidation and violence.
“This opinion gives control over abortion back to the states — where it rightfully belongs.
“However, here in North Carolina, this is cause for work, not celebration. Currently, in North Carolina, abortion is legal for any reason up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. This is unacceptable. With the Supreme Court’s decision to return authority over this issue to the states, it will now be our duty to carefully craft legislation that will safeguard the life and health of all our citizens, born and unborn.”
Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein said on Twitter that under current North Carolina law, abortion remains legal.
“I have a message for the women of North Carolina: you still have a legal right to an abortion in our state. North Carolina state law protects women’s reproductive freedoms.
“This is true even after the Supreme Court today stripped women of their right to an abortion under the Constitution by overturning Roe v. Wade. If we want to keep our freedoms under state law, then we have to elect state officials who commit to protecting them.”
Ted Budd, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, said the decision was “a historic victory.”
“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is a historic victory for the millions of Americans who believe that every life is precious and deserves protection.
“And it is a victory for the millions of unborn children who may now realize the most fundamental of all human rights, the right to life. The Court’s ruling correctly empowers the people’s representatives in each state to decide how best to protect unborn lives. As a conscience-driven pro-life advocate, I will continue to support protections for unborn children everywhere.”
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Charlotte-area Democrat, called the decision “fundamentally wrong.”
“I’m angry, that’s all that can be said. While abortion care is still legal in the State of North Carolina, today’s decision is fundamentally wrong.
“Despite this disastrous decision, we will continue to work in Congress for reproductive justice and equality, and enshrine the bodily autonomy of women and parents in the law. Finally, I will work with legislators and advocates to fight any proposal from the North Carolina General Assembly that uses this ruling as an opportunity to turn back the clock for women.”
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said he would fight “to keep politicians out of the doctor’s exam room.”
“For 50 years, women have relied on their constitutional right to make their own medical decisions, but today that right has been tragically ripped away. That means it’s now up to the states to determine whether women get reproductive health care, and in North Carolina they still can. I will continue to trust women to make their own medical decisions as we fight to keep politicians out of the doctor’s exam room.”
Cheri Beasley, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and former chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, called the decision “wrong and dangerous.”
“As a former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, I want to be clear: Our Constitution grants Americans the right to make decisions about their health care free from government interference.
“Today, for the first time in our history, the Supreme Court took away an individual constitutional right. I join people across the country in anger and fear at this moment for what the Supreme Court’s decision will mean for women, American families, and health care providers.
“This wrong and dangerous decision that overturns nearly 50 years of precedent shows exactly what’s at stake in this election and I will not hesitate to stand up for Americans’ freedom to make our own decisions about our own families.”
Michael Whatley, chairman of the N.C. GOP, said he was proud of activism on the part of the anti-abortion movement.
“The Supreme Court has restored a Constitutional stance in our nation when it comes to the Sanctity of Life. I am proud of the work that thousands of Republican Activists across North Carolina have done for years to elect pro-life candidates to the Senate, Congress and the State Legislature. We will continue fighting from now through Election Day and beyond to ensure that we have pro-life majorities as we enter a post-Roe future.”
Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis praised the court’s decision.
“This ruling is historic and monumental and affirms my belief that all life is sacred. Each state government and its duly elected representatives will now make the determination about the types of laws they wish to have in place. I, for one, will continue to advocate for commonsense measures that the broad majority of Americans support like protecting life at crucial points of development and prohibiting horrendous procedures like partial-birth and pain-capable abortions.”
The Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade has sparked contentious debate, but Tillis called for comity.
”This is a very emotional and sensitive issue for many Americans,” he said, “and I urge calm and respect for the Court’s decision and hope people who have strong feelings on both sides will voice them peacefully.”
Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the N.C. Values Coalition, said the court’s decision was “a major victory for unborn children and their mothers.”
“In North Carolina, our work is only beginning. Our laws should recognize that life is a human right,” Fitzgerald said.
U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, a Wake County Democrat, called the decision “unthinkable.”
“The bottom line is this: women will lose control over all aspects of their lives because of this decision.
“The Supreme Court has done what many believed was unthinkable for nearly half a century. By overturning Roe v. Wade, they have stripped millions of women of a sacred constitutional right. And they did so even though the vast majority of Americans agree that women should have the right to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions. I fear for all our sisters and daughters and I fear for the state of North Carolina, where we will need to fight tooth and nail in the coming weeks and months to preserve access to abortion healthcare.
“The people of North Carolina elected me to stand up for them, and I will not give up. I will not back down. I will join with people across our state from both political parties and from every walk of life. Together, we will keep fighting every day until all women have control over their own reproductive decisions.”
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This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 10:50 AM.
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