Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio and several other Republican-led states have total or near-total abortion ban laws in place, while other states have significant restrictions when it comes to abortion. These rules, imposed since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, are highly challenged by pro-abortion advocates and Democrat leaders across the country. California Gov. Gavin Newsom now decided to tackle lawmakers in Tennessee in what appears to be the start of an open war against red states with similar laws in place.
California Gov. Newsom launches ad
California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, made a bold move on Sunday by launching the first of many TV commercials. These commercials criticize conservative leaders for making it hard for women to travel to get reproductive services.
Newsom’s advertisement, which was first shown on Sunday during NBC’s “Meet the Press,” is going to be aired in Tennessee. This is because a lawmaker in Tennessee is trying to make it illegal to take a minor across state lines for an abortion. According to this proposed law in Tennessee, any adult who helps a minor get an abortion in another state without their parents’ consent could face serious legal consequences, including a felony charge that might lead to 15 years in jail.
Expensive campaign that marks the beginning of a new era
This TV commercial in Tennessee, which is just the beginning of a campaign that includes spending a significant amount of money on TV, cable, and online ads in various conservative states, features a young woman in a very stressful situation. She’s shown handcuffed to a bed in a hospital, desperately asking for help. The commercial’s narration points out that “Trump Republicans” are looking to punish young women who go out of state for reproductive health services.
“Don’t let them hold Tennessee women hostage,” the narrator says, urging viewers to take action and directing viewers to a website. The site currently includes a petition against abortion travel bans and once the state-by-state campaigns launch, will include ways for people to take action against the legislation.
Other Republican-led states are considering similar laws
Officials in several states with conservative leadership are quickly putting in place penalties and fines for anyone who helps people cross state borders to access abortion services. Governor Gavin Newsom of California, who has already been active with TV commercials and billboards advocating for abortion rights, and has aimed to make California a safe haven for abortion services, commented on how severe the situation is in these conservative states.
Newsom highlighted that these actions by conservative officials are not only about limiting a young woman’s choice to have a child but also about controlling their futures by restricting their ability to travel for reproductive care. On his Sunday’s appearance, Newsom, a Democrat and a prominent supporter of Joe Biden’s campaign, mentioned states like Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Mississippi as examples.
He also noted that the attorney general in Alabama is looking to make it illegal for both minors and adults to travel for the purpose of getting reproductive health services, referring to a legal document that labeled such travel as part of a “criminal conspiracy.”
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“That’s how serious this moment is,” Newsom added. “And we need to be even more aggressive, I would argue. And that’s what this ad represents.”
Abortion policy in the focus for Democrats in the presidential campaign
The fight to ensure access to abortion is a key strategy for the Democratic Party as they aim to keep control of the White House. Recently, the Alabama Supreme Court decided that embryos created through IVF are recognized as children under state law, a ruling that former President Donald Trump, despite his support for a 16-week abortion restriction, did not agree with.
Who pays for these campaigns?
Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent actions are part of his Campaign for Democracy, funded by millions in donations left from a 2021 recall attempt against him that didn’t succeed. This campaign also addresses issues like gun control. Newsom, known for his efforts that reach beyond California, has clashed with governors like Ron DeSantis from Florida and Greg Abbott from Texas, increasing his visibility on the national stage.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Newsom took a bold step by putting up billboards in several states led by Republicans. In an unusual strategy before last fall’s midterm elections, he chose not to focus on advertising for his own reelection, which was expected to be straightforward. Instead, he invested heavily in television advertisements for Proposition 1 in 2022. This initiative successfully secured the rights to abortion and contraceptives within the California constitution.