Early, often and unequivocally: How Whitmer’s fight for abortion rights helped turn Michigan blue
Associated PressLANSING, Mich. — Ten years ago, as Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature was on the verge of passing one of the nation’s most restrictive anti-abortion laws at the time, a 42-year-old state senator from East Lansing took to the Senate floor to speak out against what she knew was about to happen. Democrats did better than expected in last year’s midterms, limiting their House losses and maintaining a narrow Senate majority, and defending abortion rights worked in Democrats’ favor in several states again this year. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign views the defense of abortion rights as a winning issue for Democrats in 2024. Whitmer, who is co-chair of Biden’s reelection campaign and has herself been frequently mentioned as a future presidential candidate, deflected questions Monday about his chances in Michigan, insisting that she was only going to “focus on reproductive rights today.” Whitmer also said she understands that talking about abortion is “not comfortable for everyone.” But she said the chances of Republicans pushing for a federal ban on abortion should be taken seriously. Since winning full legislative control, Michigan Democrats have struck down the state’s 1931 abortion ban, prohibited Michigan companies from firing or retaliating against workers for receiving an abortion and lifted regulations on abortion clinics.