Gretchen Whitmer: Michigan governor leans on abortion rights to pave the way for re-election

Proud grandparents Dick and Dawn Rossell came to see their granddaughter Abby show her pig and win a prize.

The Rossells say they vote Republican almost all the time, but they haven’t decided yet.

“I’m leaning right, but when it comes to my politicians, I want what’s best for this state and country,” Dick Rossell said.

He said the economy was the issue that most determined his vote, but believed that there were times when an abortion was necessary and wanted to preserve that right for women.

When he said that, his wife Dawn nodded in agreement. She said her abortion had never been an issue determining her vote, but it could be this year.

Dawn Rossell said, “Before I decide whether to vote for abortion, I’d love to hear more about what Tudor Dixon has to say about abortion.

abortion problem

Abortion rights are now protected in Michigan.A 1931 state law banning abortion still exists, but state courts suspend the banThe ban was overturned by Roe v. Wade in 1973, although its precedent was Overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtsome Republicans want the law to take effect again.
So far, most voters are hearing about Dixon’s abortion stance. Ads funded by Democrats Flooding the airwaves with the conservative commentator’s own words on abortion, suggesting she supports a total ban without exception.
As the abortion struggle returns to the state, Michigan is at the forefront with courts and campaigns
Dixon revealed in a July interview that she supports abortion When the mother’s life is in danger.
ever since win the Republican primary As of August 2nd, Dixon keeps a low profile on the campaign trail.

But not Whitmer.

At a recent voter conference in the Republican-leaning town of Grand Blanc, she admitted that she had had a rough few years leading the state. pandemiceconomic struggles and even FBI failures kidnapping plan against her.

“People often ask, ‘Why the hell do you want to keep doing this?'” Whitmer told the audience. “Tough times need tough people.”

She often talks about abortion issues.

“The only reason Michigan remains a choice-supporting state is because of my veto and litigation,” she said.

Even before the Roe v. Wade case was overturned in June, Whitmer had filed a lawsuit He was trying to prevent Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban from taking effect.
petition to put Broad Abortion Rights Bill in November Vote It collected nearly 600,000 valid signatures, but the state Supreme Court is set to decide whether to go ahead with it after the campaign committee stalemate last week along party lines. Republicans objected to the issue of document spacing when documents were filed.
If the initiative is approved, Michigan will be one of the few states to hold an abortion referendum in November. The issue sparked a big vote of abortion rights advocates in Kansas, a red state where voters vote this summer. The amendment was rejected by an overwhelming majority. Remove abortion rights from state constitutions.
What Kansas Abortion Surprise Means in November (and What It Doesn't Mean)

Whitmer was asked whether Michigan could be the next Kansas in an interview with CNN on Grand Blanc.

“I can’t speak to everything that was part of informing Kansas voters,” she said. This means that it supports

At a recent roundtable in Macomb County for women to talk about “reproductive rights,” Whitmer opened up about her own trauma.

“When I was in college, one in four women was raped. And a few days later it was devastating. After an hour or a day, I thought, “Oh my God, what if I get pregnant?” If so, I knew I could choose what was right for me.

“I have two daughters and the idea that I have less rights than I have had in my life makes me angry,” she added.

Emily Sheleda and her mother, Rhonda McClinton, said they are swing voters who have supported both Democrats and Republicans.

“I don’t think the overturn of Roe v. Wade necessarily changed who I voted for, but it definitely changed the way people like my mom, who are more middle class, voted. I was urged to vote for those who defend reproductive rights,” said Emily Sheleda.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” her mother added. I don’t think I expected to come.”

Other concerns still dominate

Not all voters in Michigan feel any particular push to vote after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal constitutional right to abortion no longer exists.

“I don’t think the abortion issue is a big deal in Michigan,” said a supporter of Dixon, a Republican running for state senator who was protesting outside Whitmer’s campaign event in Grand Blanc. said Aaron Gardner.

“What most people care about is the money in their pockets,” he said. “Let’s be realistic. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and our leadership in Michigan and Lansing has repeatedly betrayed voters by not voting to evade taxes.”

Whitmer said he understands that his constituencies are struggling financially.

“People are having a hard time putting food on the table. The cost of everything is going up. The cost of gas has been going down continuously for the last month and a half, which is good. But I’ve been trying to do something about it.Our Congress is working with me to give tax cuts and sales tax leave so my family can get ready to go back to school. I wouldn’t.

(Republicans in the state legislature responded to Whitmer’s proposal: suggestions on twitter It was an election-year gimmick, and she claimed she had vetoed other tax cuts.)
very similar President Joe Biden As is the case at the national level, Whitmer makes a point of touting the signs of Michigan’s good economy.

She was recently in Bay City to tour a new semiconductor manufacturing plant.

“We just announced record jobs in Michigan, with 25,000 people in advanced manufacturing making batteries here,” Whitmer said.

“So there’s a lot of good stuff going on. Not everyone is feeling it yet. That’s why we need to step into the accelerator,” she added cautiously.

the mood of the people Biden’s low approval rating Whitmer expressed sympathy for his friends in the White House, but he wasn’t one step away.

“It’s hard to lead in this era, no question, and I’ve had to navigate a lot of tough things over the past few years,” she said. values ​​leaders who use every tool in their toolbox to put their values ​​into practice and try to solve problems, and I see that happening at the federal level, but I see it happening at the Washington, D.C. I’m not a creature of the world, I’ll stay focused on Michigan and the people of Michigan.”

rarity on the trail

Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Tudor Dixon of Michigan during a debate in Grand Rapids on July 6, 2022.

Through a spokesperson, Dixon declined CNN’s request for an interview. Her campaign did not share details of the public event or provide a proxy for CNN to speak on.

Dixon’s presence in the campaign has been largely absent since she won the Republican primary last month. A Michigan Republican source said they are spending time fundraising and reorganizing for the general election.

Last month, Dixon State GOP nominating convention at Lansing. After the convention, the Governor of Virginia joined her. Glenn YoungkinRepublican Who won on the blue side Last year, we campaigned hard on cultural inequality and education.

In her remarks on Lansing, Dixon appeared to borrow from Youngkin’s playbook.

“We want educational freedom in Michigan,” she told the crowd.

How Glenn Youngkin Created an Education Roadmap for Republicans

“We want transparency in schools and that’s why we call for the Parents’ Right to Know Act….We want you to know what books are in your child’s classroom. I think you should know what books your school has in your library and what the class syllabus is for your child. think.

Dixon then touched on another cultural topic, telling the audience that they should know if teachers have recently attended training on how to help children change pronouns.

“We should know that,” she said.

Whitmer also seems to have taken a lesson from the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election. Suburban voters with their backs turned Democrat Terry McAuliffe cited education as a major issue.

In an interview with CNN, Whitmer insisted on speaking about the importance of public education, even though it was unsolicited, and offered what appeared to be a counter-proposal on the issue of parental involvement.

“We just launched a Parent Advisory Board. I think it’s really important to empower people,” she said.

Whitmer has become a national figure during the pandemic.her decision stay-at-home order When mask duty It wasn’t always popular, and back at the Michigan State Fair, it was still on the minds of some voters.

“I think she did a bad job, especially in the Covid situation,” said Michigan voter Ron Jordan.

Jordan, who usually votes Republican, said he likes everything about Dixon “except the abortion issue.”

“Apparently she…” he paused and thought for a moment. “You have to be more tolerant of the abortion situation.”



Source: www.cnn.com

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