GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — With former president Donald Trump becoming the projected winner of the 2024 presidential race, both pro-life and pro-choice groups in the state are giving their responses to the results.
Planned Parenthood of Michigan, whose mission is to provide affordable reproductive health care through medical services, education and advocacy, said their doors will "stay open, no matter what."
"We want to make it abundantly clear to Michiganders and those from out of state who come to us for care that again, our doors are open," said Paula Thornton Greear, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Michigan.
In 2022, voters in Michigan approved Proposal 3, which amended the state constitution so that every person has the right to reproductive freedom, including abortions.
That came after three Supreme Court Justices Trump appointed during his first term voted to overturn Roe V. Wade, as some are concerned a second term for former President Trump could lead to further roll-backs in reproductive options.
During his campaign, Trump has expressed pride in the overturning of Roe V. Wade. His campaign said that Trump supports a "state-centered" approach on the matter.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he would not support a federal abortion ban.
Thornton Greear asserted that any restrictions on abortion can cost lives.
"No one should die because they're afraid to go to their doctor, or they're banned from going to see their doctor," said Thornton Greear. "This is about a personal decision that one makes with their family and their doctor."
This election, 10 states saw abortion measures on their ballots. Voters in seven of those states approved protections for abortion rights.
"It's reflective of the sheer number of people across this country who have spoke loudly and repeatedly that abortion should be available for all," Thornton Greear added.
13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to Right to Life Michigan to get their reaction to the election results, they provided the following statement from Amber Roseboom, President of Right to Life of Michigan:
“The Democrats made a strategic decision going into the 2024 election to run on abortion – peddling the fantasy that abortion access was at risk and misrepresenting the records of candidates - a dark path forward for a national party that reverberated into virtually every state race in Michigan. Their failed strategy represented a stunning, costly miscalculation.
Michigan voters, and voters across the country, issued a resounding repudiation of the radical abortion-obsessed agenda of the left. Kamala Harris was defeated in Michigan and the blue wall crumbled. A prolife majority won back our state House. Our endorsed candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives all won. Moreover, we saw victories in nearly 90% of the 262 races in which we made endorsements.
Moving forward, Right to Life of Michigan will remain focused on ensuring a woman who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant has every opportunity to make a choice for life if she would like to do so. We will also be working alongside our elected officials to safeguard parental consent and limits on taxpayer funding for abortion. Michiganders voted for commonsense leadership, and I expect that is exactly what they will get.”