On September 10, Attorney General Bob Ferguson went head-to-head in a debate with former Congressman Dave Reichert in the race to become Washington’s next Governor. Ferguson, with an unwavering commitment to protecting reproductive rights for all Washingtonians, stood firm on his proven record. Meanwhile, Reichert took pains to distance himself from his past actions in Congress, when he was part of an agenda to defund Planned Parenthood and ban abortions, both in Washington and nationwide.
It’s no wonder Reichert is actively downplaying his voting record and past statements. Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates tracked and fact-checked Reichert throughout tonight’s debate. During the debate, Reichert claimed that on abortion, everyone is trying to twist his words and misrepresent his votes. But the facts don’t lie. Here is what Reichert actually voted for:
- While in Congress, Reichert voted for federal abortion bans in 2013, 2015, and 2017, which also would have criminalized doctors (H.R. 36, Vote #549, 10/3/17; H.R. 36; Vote #223, 5/13/15; H.R. 1797; Vote #251, 6/18/13).
- Reichert voted repeatedly to defund accessible, affordable health care.
- Reichert voted to criminalize teens who are traveling across state lines to seek reproductive health care they cannot get at home.
- Reichert voted against legislation that protected pregnant people from being fired for getting an abortion or using birth control.
Statement from Courtney Normand (she/her), PPAA Washington State Director:
It’s clear that Reichert will say whatever he needs to manipulate voters across the state into believing that he will respect their reproductive freedoms. But we must watch what he does, not what he says. Reichert is rightfully running scared, trying to hide his true plans. But the facts speak for themselves.
Reichert has consistently voted to defund Planned Parenthood, ban access to abortion, and criminalize doctors who provide abortions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is the leader we need to both defend Washingtonians and offer continued refuge to those who come here seeking the care they can’t access in their own states.
The actions of politicians in neighboring states show us that the threats to our rights are real. We must do everything in our power to ensure that Washington remains a haven for our residents and those from other states who rely on us. As Attorney General Ferguson said in the September 10 debate, “In a post-Dobbs world, the risk is too high” for voters to trust Dave Reichert.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson is the champion for reproductive health and freedom we need. Ferguson knows that politicians have no place in personal medical decisions. As we approach November 5, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates will continue to sound the alarm on the threat Reichert poses to our fundamental rights.
Jennifer Martinez is the Communications Manager for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates (PPAA), Washington. PPAA is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization educating residents and policymakers about reproductive health issues in Alaska, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, and Washington. PPAA lobbies and educates to advance Planned Parenthood’s mission and engages in limited electoral activities.
Sources
- https://www.king5.com/article/news/politics/elections/bob-ferguson-abortion-ads-claims-dave-reichert-washington-governor-race/281-ae437d4d-abb2-4cf7-811b-4d972634a8dc
- https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/36
- https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/H.R.-36-Harm.pdf
- https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/hr1797.pdf
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/planned-parenthood-loses-funding-in-house-vote/
- https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll144.xml
- https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll390.xml
- https://x.com/BobFergusonAG/status/1782900691033612387
