'The number one issue': Pro-choice advocates in Wisconsin discuss potential impacts of election results on reproductive rights

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Abortion access was one of this election season's most polarizing topics, and reproductive rights advocates in Wisconsin are calling the 2022 midterms "historic" as voters came out to "show support" on Tuesday.

Currently, doctors and nurses are banned from performing abortions in the state, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin (PPAWI) held a news conference on Zoom on Wednesday, discussing the potential impacts of election results.

Incumbent Republican Senator Ron Johnson secured his third term in the state, while Incumbent Democrat Gov. Tony Evers and Democrat Attorney General Josh Kaul also were reelected.

Tanya Atkinson, the president and CEO of PPAWI, said abortion was "an incredibly influential issue in engaging voters".

"This is something that impacts real people every day," Atkinson said. "We continue to use our voices to fight back and hold our legislators accountable to restore safe and legal abortions in Wisconsin.

PPAWI said they reached out to 1.25 million voters throughout the election -- their biggest outreach ever.

"Voters were driven by their desire to restore abortion access and women and Wisconsinite's ability to make their own healthcare decisions," Atkinson said. "PPAWI won't stop until everyone has access to the care, resources, and education they deserve to lead strong, healthy lives."

Steven Webb, the executive director of PPAWI, said he believes abortion "was the number one issue that was on the minds of Wisconsinites".

"Our efforts will continue as we work with the incoming administration to ensure everyone has access to the healthcare that they need," Webb said. 

Gracie Skogman, the legislative director for Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL), said the results of the election are "a mixed bag".

"We are certainly excited that Ron Johnson has been reelected. But of course, there are some sobering losses on a state level with the Governor and Attorney General's race," Skogman said. 

Skogman said the large voter turnout happened because abortion was on the ballot "in a tangible way like never before".

"We currently have a law on the books that is saving lives from our perspective in the pro-life movement. But for those on the other side, they see that as a very overly restrictive law," Skogman said. "We have a very large majority of pro-life representation in our state houses that has been very powerful and advocating for life in the past years under the Evers administration. I expect that they will do the same. Our goal as a pro-life movement is to change hearts and minds that doesn't change regardless of who's in office. Our work continues and goes on, regardless."