Michigan Voters Will Decide the Future of Abortion This Autumn

     It's fairly rare today, but we have good news to report on abortion rights. An ungerrymandered Michigan could be a happy Michigan and it could be a just Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer launched a historic lawsuit to overturn Michigan's pre-Roe abortion ban. It has gone before Michigan judges who have sided with the governor, allowing abortions to remain safe and legal statewide for the time being. However, county and local officials have become confused over the status of abortion's legality in Michigan, which is why Governor Whitmer has urged the Michigan Supreme Court to take up her lawsuit immediately and permanently overturn this century-old ban. Michigan's Supreme Court has a wide Democratic majority, which means the ban will likely be overturned if the Supreme Court takes up the case.

     This lawsuit is part of a two-pronged approach to protect abortion access in Michigan. Today, voters submitted a staggering 750,000 signatures for a ballot initiative to enshrine the right to reproductive health in the state constitution, the most signatures ever submitted for a ballot initiative in state history by far and nearly double the required vote total of 425,000. This means that the initiative will appear on the ballot in autumn. Nearly two out of three voters in Michigan support a woman's right to choose, which means that, like in the aforementioned court case, victory is certain if the people make their voices heard.

     Bringing Michigan from a state that bans abortion to a state that protects it in its constitution in just a matter of months would be a historic achievement. However, there is still so much more work to do, which is why it is so critical that you vote in 2022. In Michigan, Democrats are just three seats away from retaking control of the House of Representatives. If we reelect Gretchen Whitmer, secure a Democratic majority in the lower chamber, and keep Michigan's Democratic senators and representatives in office, we can shift Michigan from a purple state to a light blue state like Minnesota. This would allow Michigan to even further expand abortion access to make it easier for residents to access reproductive healthcare and help prepare for the influx of patients who will almost certainly come from neighboring states.

     Michigan voters will decide the future of abortion this autumn: this is do or die.