MADISON, Wis. — Ahead of Donald Trump’s trip to Wisconsin on Tuesday, Democrats are blasting the former president for what they said are threats to reproductive freedom.
After a recent visit from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, another leader has become involved in swing state politics—Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
A week from the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Gov. Tony Evers reminded voters how the ruling impacted Wisconsinites during a roundtable discussion to campaign for President Joe Biden’s reelection.
“I come from across the lake, but we have a lot of similarities between Wisconsin and Michigan,” Gov. Whitmer explained.
She said one of the biggest similarities between the two states is what’s at stake in November regarding reproductive rights.
“Whether you’re in Wisconsin or Alabama or a state like Michigan, that has these rights enshrined now, we could all lose them,” Gov. Whitmer added.
Unlike Michigan, which repealed its abortion ban and enshrined abortion rights in the state’s constitution, Wisconsinites were unable to access abortion care for 449 days until a court decision came down.
That’s been on Megan Lowe’s mind lately. Back in March, she went to the Capitol to call for protection and access to contraceptives on behalf of her daughter, who has Rett syndrome.
On Monday, Lowe made the trip from Merrimac to Madison again.
“We’re taking away off-ramps for us,” Lowe told the governors. “I just don’t understand what we’re supposed to do.”
“I hate that you have to go through this and talk about this,” Gov. Whitmer responded.
However, it’s that kind of talk that Gov. Evers hopes will turn people out as he reminds Wisconsinites of former President Donald Trump’s record.
“Donald Trump caused this to happen in the state of Wisconsin,” Gov. Evers said. “He ran on it in 2016, and he did it. He talked about getting a Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade, and he did it.”
Whitmer, a sexual assault survivor herself, told reporters after Monday’s roundtable that now, more than ever, states have to work together.
“In a state like Wisconsin, where you might be able to protect these rights, if there’s a national abortion ban, there’s nothing we can do at the state levels, and that’s why, even in a state like Michigan, it is so important that we are continuing to organize and continuing to remind people that Joe Biden is the only person on the ballot who could win the White House and will protect these fundamental rights,” Gov. Whitmer said.