State Democrats see reproductive freedom as galvanizing force in November elections
Jun. 21—CHARLESTON — The West Virginia State Democratic Party will defend reproductive freedom as one of the major messages to emerge out of party's convention last weekend.
"It's a top issue because it's about our freedom, our rights," Teresa Toriseva, democratic candidate for West Virginia Attorney General, said. "Our freedom has been taken away and one of the things I say to to people is, 'I'm pro-gun for the same reason I'm pro-choice. All my rights belong to me and are given to me by the Constitution.'"
The subject was never far from conversation during the party's convention in Charleston on Friday and Saturday. State Democrats brought renewed emphasis on reproductive rights as a response to the developments throughout the last five years on abortion and access to the morning after pill. In 2018, the state passed an amendment saying nothing in the state's constitution protects abortion or mandates funding for it. For perspective, the total number of votes on the measure was 571,274. A vote difference of 20,000 is roughly 3.5% of the total amount of votes cast.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Since then, 21 states have moved to ban abortion or restrict the procedure earlier in pregnancy than the standard set by Roe v. Wade, according to the New York Times. West Virginia banned it outright.
Toriseva said reasonable limits on gun rights and reproductive rights can be acceptable, but government making its presence known inside a doctor's office or gun safe, making unilateral decisions on bodily autonomy or gun rights on behalf of individuals goes too far.
"Women are outraged and scared," she said. "We didn't ever think we would lose the protections of Roe v. Wade. What we're hearing with independent voters is this is an issue they care about too because they want limited government. They want small government, they want government out of their life. Government is never more in your life than if they're in your bedroom or doctor's office."
Glenn Elliott and Steve Williams, candidates for U.S. Senate and governor respectively, both brought up the subject during their speeches on Saturday. Elliott argued the state's Republican supermajority legislature fought harder to protect raw milk and Confederate monuments than they did for children in need or women who need reproductive care during the 2024 session.
Williams presented the state legislature in May with a petition asking for a ballot measure that would add "restoring reproductive freedom" to the state's constitution. The petition had 2,505 signatures. Williams added he wants to ensure women's health care is a platinum program, and not just the bare minimum.
"Fifty two percent of our voters are women," Williams said. "Any polling of women, just have conversations with women, going out and campaigning with women in the audience, their concern is what has happened in our government and our society. Women who have been used to having health care and reproductive care where now it's not assured. It's dangerous, as far as I'm concerned. I understand when someone is wanting to be, or some person believes they are pro-life, just because they are yours does not mean that's something that needs to be imposed on someone else."
Reach Esteban at efernandez@timeswv.com
