Election stakes highlighted one year after key abortion vote in NC

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – On the anniversary of the state legislature voting to enact new restrictions on abortion in North Carolina, groups opposed to the measure highlighted on Thursday what they believe is at stake in this year’s election.

The law restricts abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy with limited exceptions for rape, incest, life-limiting fetal anomalies and protecting the mother’s life. There are also regulations on abortion before the 12-week mark, including in-person visits with a doctor.

The Republican-controlled legislature voted last May to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the bill. The GOP gained a supermajority when Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham switched parties, giving Republicans the exact number of votes needed.

“We will work relentlessly to reach under-engaged communities across college campuses, communities of color and suburban women to ensure that everyone knows this election abortion is on the ballot,” said Jillian Riley, North Carolina director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic. “We are more organized. We are more focused than ever before.”

Political organizations tied to Planned Parenthood have launched a $10 million campaign in the state leading up to this year’s election on get-out-the-vote efforts, which is the most they’ve ever planned to spend in North Carolina.

They aim to break the GOP supermajority and help Atty. Gen. Josh Stein (D) defeat Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) in the governor’s race.

While the legislature is currently in session, Republican lawmakers say they don’t plan to take any further action on the abortion issue this year.

“We have, I think, a very moderate commonsense bill in North Carolina,” said Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance). “I think there’s been a lot of hype, a lot of partisan truth-stretching about what the bill actually did.”

A new report this week from the Society of Family Planning shows the estimated number of abortions in North Carolina dropped after the restrictions went into effect on July 1.

In the six months leading up to that day, the report shows there were 4,527 abortions each month on average in North Carolina. That declined to 3,518 on average each month in the second half of 2023.

“So, let’s be clear. The current legislative majority will not stop until abortion is completely inaccessible in North Carolina,” said Riley.

Lt. Gov. Robinson says he would support a bill restricting abortion after a heartbeat can be detected, which could mean a ban on abortion as early as six weeks.

In a statement, Robinson campaign spokesman Mike Lonergan said, “Biden, Stein and the Democrats are recycling their same old playbook they used in 2022. It failed then and it will fail now. North Carolina voters don’t support the Biden-Stein agenda of taxpayer-funded, late-term abortion on-demand. That’s extreme and out of step with our state’s values.”

Stein has said he supports putting the protections afforded under Roe v. Wade back into place, which allowed for abortion up to the point of fetal viability, typically between 24 to 28 weeks.

Democratic state Sen. Lisa Grafstein pushed back on the assertion that she and other Democrats support late-term abortion or abortion up until birth, as some Republicans have claimed.

“It’s absolutely outrageous to claim that anybody wants to abort a child at birth. That’s insane and ridiculous and they ought to stop saying it,” she said.

The election could directly affect what action the legislature takes on this issue in 2025, if any.

“My personal preference would be to keep the law as it is. But, that’s not my decision, ultimately. I can’t control what other members file,” said Sen. Galey. “I would be actually very surprised if we don’t see a heartbeat bill filed in the next long session because people can file anything. But, I would be surprised to see those bills gain any kind of traction.”

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.