INDIANAPOLIS — As a whole, Jennifer McCormick sees Indiana’s gubernatorial election as a “referendum on abortion rights” in the state.
“I trust women and their healthcare providers to make the best decisions for their health, and it’s time we bring common sense and balance back to our state policies,” McCormick, the Democratic nominee for governor in the state of Indiana, said in a news release outlining the campaign’s “common sense abortion rights” plan.
In that plan, McCormick said her campaign will fight to “ensure that women have the right to an abortion” in the state of Indiana. This comes after Senate Enrolled Act No. 1, the state’s near-total abortion ban, was signed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb in August 2022 and officially implemented last year.
In November’s general election, McCormick will face U.S. Senator Mike Braun, R-Ind, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, and Donald Rainwater, Indiana’s Libertarian gubernatorial candidate.
What is Indiana’s abortion law?
According to previous reports, Indiana’s near-total abortion ban was implemented in August 2023, making Indiana one of the first states to implement a stricter abortion law after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.
Indiana’s law prohibits all abortions in the state except for three exceptions:
- When reasonable medical judgment dictates that performing the abortion is necessary to prevent death or a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, or the “health or life exception.”
- When the pregnant person receives a diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly
- When the pregnant person is a victim of rape or incest.
This law is seen by many Hoosiers as “too restrictive,” according to a poll in June. At the time, the poll stated 64% of Hoosiers believe that abortion should be legal in most, or all, cases.
What does McCormick’s abortion rights plan consist of?
On Thursday, McCormick’s campaign released its plan surrounding Indiana’s near-total abortion ban. However, this is not McCormick’s first time she has spoken about the law.
During FOX59/CBS4’s recent gubernatorial debate, McCormick voiced her support for overturning the state’s near-total abortion ban. McCormick said at that time that her campaign would look at every step available to overturn the law while working with the Indiana General Assembly.
“I am the only person on this stage who has been pregnant, I am the only person on this stage who has given birth and I am the only person on this stage who is a mom and I understand firsthand the complexities associated with pregnancy,” McCormick said during the debate earlier this month. “I trust healthcare providers. I believe in the standards set by Roe. It is time we return to that.”
In the release, McCormick said if she is elected, she would have the opportunity to take several executive actions that help protect access to reproductive healthcare in the state of Indiana. Those actions include:
- Direct the Indiana Department of Health to interpret existing laws which “maximizes legal access to abortion services.”
- McCormick said that this would help reduce barriers that clinics and providers face.
- State funding would prioritize funding for reproductive health, making sure that women will have access to services in the state.
- Shift the focus from enforcement to compliance assistance for clients and providers.
- McCormick said this would create a more supportive regulatory environment.
- Appoint supporters of abortion rights to relevant state boards and commission, including the Medical Licensing Board.
- Protect the privacy of medical records, including terminated pregnancy reports, from government officials.
- Use the governor’s office as a platform to defend abortion rights and inform Hoosiers of their reproductive freedoms.
McCormick said she would also advocate for the creation of citizen-led ballot initiatives, allowing Indiana residents to repeal the state’s near-total abortion ban.
“The choice in this election is clear,” McCormick said in the release. “When I’m elected Governor, the people of Indiana will have spoken loudly and clearly in favor of abortion rights.”
During a news conference surrounding the plan, McCormick said that this plan in particular has been “very anticipated.” As she has traveled the state during the campaign, McCormick said this has been “by far” one of the biggest issues; stressing that Hoosiers are “well aware of the extreme nature” of SEA One.
McCormick said that Hoosiers, along with healthcare providers statewide, are confused about what can and can’t be done in the law. If she is elected, McCormick said that they would serve as a guide, providing education and help for those in compliance with the law, instead of a push for enforcement, stressing that SEA One has to be followed since it is the law.
McCormick said that if she is elected, she would use her position to champion citizen-led ballot initiatives and do anything within their authority to pressure the Indiana General Assembly to listen and act upon the items that Indiana residents support.
The campaign is “not asking for the moon” regarding this specific plan, McCormick said. She is just asking for “common sense” and making sure that women and local providers are being protected.
What have the other candidates said about abortion?
The two other gubernatorial candidates have also made their respective views public surrounding Indiana’s abortion ban.
When asked about it during the recent FOX59/CBS4 debate, Braun stated that the bill “sanctifies life” with “reasonable exceptions,” stressing that Indiana is a “right to life” state.
“When our legislature took it on, they talked to their constituents, to Hoosiers and it has withstood the courts weighing in,” Braun said during the debate. “It is a bill that sanctifies life. we are a state that does that with reasonable exceptions. I think the people have (spoken), the legislature (listened) and we have a bill that works for Hoosiers.”
A self-proclaimed “pro-life libertarian,” Rainwater previously told FOX59/CBS4 that he advocates for the rights of all people, including those who are born and those who are pre-born.
“I think the basic foundation of that is in the case of abortion, we’re talking about the life of an unborn child that cannot speak for itself,” Rainwater previously said. “When we talk about any other aspect of medical freedom, we’re talking about individuals having the opportunity to decide with their medical provider what to do with their life. And so to me, that’s a significant difference.”
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