Reproductive health has been a hot topic in Washington’s race for governor between Democratic candidate Bob Ferguson and Republican candidate Dave Reichert.
In various social media posts and campaign emails, Ferguson has repeatedly called Reichert an “anti-choice Republican”, drawing attention to Reichert’s past votes on abortion legislation.
Ferguson’s campaign has said Reichert previously supported a nationwide abortion ban, citing votes in 2013, 2015 and 2017 on the “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” The bill sought to ban abortions after 20 weeks, with exceptions for rape and incest.
Reichert argues that he didn’t vote on an abortion ban, rather he voted on legislation that refer to viability.
“I think the law here in Washington state is also similar in that it defines viability as 22, 23, 24 weeks. So I actually voted for legislation that is very similar to Washington state’s abortion law,” Reichert said.
The bill would have also criminalized those who performed or attempted to perform an abortion after those 20 weeks.
Ferguson said Reichert’s votes do not align with the values held by Washington’s voters.
“Criminalizing doctors is wildly out of step with mainstream Washington state,” Ferguson said.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “most neonates born at or above 26 weeks of gestation have, with active intervention, a high likelihood of survival, while below 22 weeks are virtually nonviable.”
The Library considers between 22 and 26 weeks of gestational age as a “gray zone.”
Abortion has been allowed in Washington since 1970, a stance that is unlikely to change given the state’s Democratic-majority legislature. It remains legal up until the point at which a fetus is considered viable outside the womb—a decision that’s left up to the provider to determine.
Reichert said, today, he would protect the existing law as governor and pointed to a time when he was an officer in King County when pro-life protesters cam to protest and block access to a local abortion clinic.
“My job as a police officer was to keep that abortion clinic open to serve the needs of the women in the Federal Way area, and that’s exactly what I did. I enforce the law that’s in 1970 I will do exactly the same thing as governor. I will enforce the law currently, current, the laws that currently exist, as it relates to abortion,” said Reichert.
Ferguson also said he’d protect the right to have an abortion.
In Washington, the governor has no authority to change the state’s abortion law, but does appoint judges when there is a vacancy.
Ferguson said he would appoint people who would protect the right to abortions and make sure that as the state continues to fund organizations like Planned Parenthood.
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