Christine Jordan Sexton
On the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried is confident that this will be the year that health care will be a driving factor in the state’s elections.
“We’ve seen all across the country, not just women, but our allies and people that are frustrated that politicians are making the ultimate decision about a health care decision that is so intimate and so private that should be kept within their own personal family circles and that with the doctor,” Fried said.
Shortly after the Dobbs decision in 2022, Fried herself tried to use access to abortion as a talking point in her Democratic Primary campaign against Charlie Crist. But Crist easily defeated Fried for the gubernatorial nomination before he was trounced by Gov. Ron DeSantis that November.
This year Florida voters will decide directly on an amendment guaranteeing access to abortion. The vote will come just months after a new ban on abortion after six weeks took effect.
Proponents of abortion access have stressed that abortion transcends reproductive freedom and impacts people’s access to health care. It was a theme that was carried over at a Tallahassee press conference Monday to highlight the second anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling.
Florida is also one of just 10 states that hasn’t expanded access to Medicaid as allowable under federal law. Democrats in the past have tried to use health care access, and Medicaid expansion, as a campaign issue. But it hasn’t translated to success at the polls.
Fried, however, contends that this year will be different.
“This is the first time I believe, probably in the history of the United States, where a right has been given and now taken away, and that is why people are so angry,” Fried said.
“Because if this could happen with reproductive freedom, what is next? And we know what is next, that’s contraception, that is IVF, that is everything that comes next. Because they’ve laid it out,” Fried added, referring to Project 2025. “So this is not just about health care. This is about freedom. This is about democracy and Americans taking the last stance of what we want and how we want America to operate from.”
Fred’s comments came at an Americans for Contraception “IUD Express” press conference across from the Capitol featuring a 20-plus foot inflatable IUD.
The press conference featured Tallahassee City Commissioner Jack Porter, doula Telethia Edwards and Mylissa Farmer, a woman who says Missouri’s restrictive abortion laws endangered her life.
8 comments
Rob Smith, Jr.
June 24, 2024 at 3:52 pm
I’m still baffled as to why such a large amount of voters cast their ballot for leadership of the country, state & local races involving less than .2% of the population who might get an abortion.
Paul
June 24, 2024 at 7:19 pm
You’re right. Why should people concern themselves with a basic Constitutional right to control their own body. Stay baffled… then grow a uterus before getting back to us.
Juan Fuentes
June 24, 2024 at 3:56 pm
A woman’s human rights to her body and her reproduction is between the woman and God. Her some decision should govern and government has no rights to intrude. Abortion is not institutionalized in the Constitution nor Civil Rights. A woman, the fetus & God.
Impeach Biden
June 24, 2024 at 4:29 pm
“Nikki Fried is confident”. That is one hilarious statement right there. There is nothing else the Democrats can run on. This is their single issue for the next round of elections. “Nikki Fried is confident”. Had to say it again and I’m laughing even louder now.
Michael K
June 24, 2024 at 5:15 pm
I think Felonius Trump is “funnier.” Imagine, a presidential candidate with 36 felony convictions, found liable for sexual assault, numerous cases of fraud, a scam university, and an illegal “charitable” foundation on top of two impeachments and extramarital cheating on all three wives. And, he’s the only president in American history to refuse to accept his electoral loss. Actually, not funny. Tragically, this is today’s GOP.
Impeach Biden
June 24, 2024 at 6:23 pm
What about! What about! See, I can play your same silly game.
Michael K
June 24, 2024 at 9:42 pm
Republicans won’t want to talk about abortion because it’s a losing proposition for them. Every time it’s been on a state ballot since the disastrous overturning of Roe, Republicans have lost. Bigly.
So keep diminishing peoples rights, MAGAs. . We’ll check back in after November 5.
Elvis Pitts "THE BIG VOICE ON THE RIGHT" American
July 4, 2024 at 6:21 am
Good Morn ‘Ting America,
STAND BY FOR SAGE WISDOM:
This is nothing but meaningless every Persidental 4 year cycle fear mongering by the left. Then we have your lame-brain Nikki trying to jump on board to be “Hey Look At Me” relevant.
THE FACTS:
Now that abortion has been properly returned to the controll of The States 98% of all Beautiful women polled by the esteamed EPA Polling Agency do NOT see abortion as a 4 year election cycle issue any longer.
So everyone is free to relax their political sphincters; secure in the knowledge that the world has an Esteamed Elvis Pitts to make sense of all the disinformation being peddled by the Dook 4 Brains Left.
AND THAT, AMERICA, IS THE REST OF THE STORY.
Thank you Elvis Pitts American
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