Source: Editorial Board
The News & Observer recently published a series of questionnaires completed by candidates for the North Carolina General Assembly. The survey included several questions regarding reproductive rights, an issue that remains top of mind for voters across the state.
Unsurprisingly, a majority of the Republican candidates for the State Legislature said they would support further restrictions on abortion.
Since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, states across the nation have instituted extreme abortion bans and North Carolina has remained a safe haven for many in need of reproductive care across the southeast. Additional restrictions would have deafening consequences for North Carolina as well as neighboring states.
Voters know what is at stake when it comes to protecting reproductive freedom. And as a result, Republican candidates have desperately sought to change their position on abortion to appear more moderate. But don’t be fooled by their election-year promises.
For example, ahead of the primary election in May, Republican State Senate Candidate EC Sykes said he believed that abortion should be outlawed in “all situations.”
Fast forward to this month and Sykes told The News & Observer that he would ban abortion “at some point in the first trimester,” a departure from his previous stance. Sykes is running for Senate District 18 in Wake and Granville Counties against pro-choice Candidate Mary Wills Bode.
Much like EC Sykes, fellow Republican State Senate Candidate Mark Cavaliero has repeatedly fumbled his abortion position, so much so that he couldn’t even complete The News & Observer’s questionnaire. When asked “Should North Carolina change its abortion laws?” Cavaliero said “undecided.”
In the same week, Cavaliero went on a podcast where he discussed his abortion position, among other things. The host asked if he thought a 19-year-old woman should be able to obtain an abortion at 8 weeks and he could not say yes or no. For context, many women do not even realize that they are pregnant until this point. Cavaliero is running for Senate District 17 in Wake County against pro-choice Senator Sydney Batch.
Despite their best efforts to avoid the issue and confuse voters, it is clear that Republican legislative candidates will support abortion restrictions if given the chance. This fall, North Carolinians have the opportunity to support candidates that will fight to protect reproductive freedom.
