10th District Assembly, 8th District Senate candidates state their position on Roe v Wade

Last week's leak of the tentative U. S. Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs v Jacksons Women Health case has set off a political tsunami on the topic of reproductive rights. If the decision is issued as expected, it would change access to abortion and other reproductive medical services and could possibly lead to legal challenges to other established rights. 

We asked the four main 10th District California Assembly and all three 8th District California Assembly candidates the following question: 

For what reason[s] do you support upholding Roe v. Wade, or for what reason[s] do you support actions that would overturn the 1973 Supreme Court ruling?

Below are their responses.

8th District California State Senate candidates

Angelique Ashby

I support upholding Roe v. Wade because without the ability to control our own bodies, women are not truly free. There can be no doubt that this draft ruling is an attack on women, and that it is about control. I pledge to keep fighting for this freedom for my daughter and for all of our daughters.

Dave Jones

I support women's access to safe and legal abortion. I believe that the prior Supreme Court correctly decided Roe v. Wade based on a fundamental constitutional right to privacy and liberty for women to decide whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. I oppose overturning Roe v. Wade. If Roe is overturned by the current Supreme Court as appears will likely be the case, we can expect that women will resort to illegal abortions or dangerous self-induced abortions. Prior to Roe, illegal abortions made up one-sixth of all pregnancy-related deaths in the United States. Prohibiting abortion particularly hurts people with low income. A survey conducted prior to Roe found that among women with low incomes in New York City who had an abortion, eight in 10 attempted a dangerous self-induced procedure. I support the proposal by the Governor, Senate Pro Tem and Assembly Speaker to amend the California state constitution to make the right to abortion stronger in California. I support making California a "sanctuary state" for women from outside the state seeking safe and legal abortion and providing support to Planned Parenthood and other providers to enable them to meet this need.

I am proud to be the only candidate in the race for Senate District 8 to be endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice California. I have also been recognized on at least three separate occasions by Planned Parenthood for my leadership in protecting access to abortion and women's reproductive healthcare generally, and I have been named NOW California's Legislator of the Year.

Rafa Garcia 

I support upholding Roe v. Wade and simultaneously advocating to our federal legislators to codify the ruling into law. I support Roe v. Wade because it is a right that women have and we should not be infringing upon that right. I do not support overturning Roe v Wade.

10th District California Assembly candidates

Eric Guerra

The impending Supreme Court decision is a tragedy for American women – and the rule of law. It will have a particularly profound impact on women in red states, many of whom do not have the resources to seek a legal abortion in another state. It shows how a politicized court can do back flips to reach a conclusion they wanted to reach on an ideological basis. This decision would be the first court ruling to take back rights since our nation was founded. By overturning a 50-year-old ruling that was considered settled law, the Supreme Court is preparing to undermine the foundations of privacy in America which may also have a far-reaching impact on other civil liberties like LBGTQ+ and mixed-race marriages. I am proud to have the endorsements of pro-choice organizations like Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte and the Women Democrats of Sacramento County.

Stephanie Nguyen

"I will repeat until it is clear to everyone. Any ruling that overturns my right and every woman's right & access is egregious. We know what is best for us and for our body and no one can tell us what we can do with our body. Overturning Roe v. Wade means that there’s no rights left for women in this country. We must stop this assault on our rights as human beings. As the only woman candidate running for Assembly 10th district, I promise that I will never stop fighting and advocating for women’s rights for our district and Californian women."

Rev. Dr. Tecoy Porter

"The supreme court's apparent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which allows for safe, legal abortion, is sad and one that I don't support. It will not stop abortion but instead make women who must make this challenging decision criminal and unsafe, especially for women of color. Women deserve their say on what they do with their bodies. If decisions like Roe v. Wade are allowed to be overturned and left up to the States, every other social justice right will be at stake, threatening everyone.”

Republican Assembly Candidate Eric Rigard did not respond to the request. 

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