"When the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade more than three years ago, unleashing a wave of state-level abortion bans, the justices catapulted abortion rights to the top of US voters' minds. The issue has dominated every election cycle since and 2025 is no different. The gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia could have sweeping consequences for abortion access in two states that have become havens for women fleeing abortion bans. In Pennsylvania, what should have been a relatively sleepy judicial-retention election has evolved into the most expensive race of its kind in nearly 50 years, largely due to heated fighting over abortion."
"New Jersey is one of the most abortion-friendly states in the country, since it does not place a gestational limit on the procedure. But abortion rights activists fear that could soon change, depending on the outcome of the contest between Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a former New Jersey representative, and Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a current representative for the state. While Sherrill supports New Jersey's existing law, Ciattarelli believes abortion should be banned after 20 weeks of pregnancy. He has also voted multiple times to strip government funding from Planned Parenthood and wants to block minors from having abortions unless they have notified their parents."
"I've always supported a woman's right to choose, Ciattarelli said in a recent debate. What I don't support is making New Jersey the abortion capital of the country, inviting other people people from other states to come to New Jersey and have their abortions performed. I don't support that, let alone use taxpayer dollars to do that. When you put in place things like my opponent has suggested, people die, Sherrill shot back."
Overturning Roe v Wade sparked state abortion bans and pushed abortion rights to the forefront of US elections, continuing into 2025. Gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia could reshape access in states that receive patients fleeing bans. A Pennsylvania judicial-retention vote has become the costliest of its type in decades because of abortion battles, with the potential to change the state supreme court's balance and future access. New Jersey currently imposes no gestational limit, but the Republican candidate supports a 20-week ban, funding cuts to Planned Parenthood, and parental notification for minors. The Democratic candidate defends current protections and warns restrictions risk lives.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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