Roe Supreme Court draft opinion splits District 11 candidates on abortion, need for law

ASHEVILLE - The U.S. Supreme Court's historic draft abortion decision has charged the race for Western North Carolina's 11th congressional district, bringing outcry from Democrats, some of whom called for a new abortion rights law, and praise from Republicans who framed it as a religious issue with some saying the leaked opinion was a cynical political maneuver.

With outrage high among abortion rights supporters, and demonstrations happening in places such as Asheville, Democrats were the most eager to weigh in. The majority of the six candidates quickly posted statements to social media.

Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara called the draft "chilling," while environmental engineer Katie Dean said "our rights are under attack."

The Republicans were not as quick to give reactions, though most of the eight responded to requests for comment from the Citizen Times. One, Wendy Nevarez, went against many in her party, backing a federal law codifying Roe v. Wade.

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First-term incumbent Madison Cawthorn, who has drawn recent intense criticism for behavior and statements, including bringing a loaded gun through an airport checkpoint, credited ex-President Donald Trump with the anticipated landmark ruling. Cawthorn, 26, of Henderson County said "prayer warriors" should help the apparent court majority finalize the decision.

State Sen. Chuck Edwards said the 1973 Roe decision was an abomination and labeled abortion rights protesters "mobs."

Republicans and Democrats will each select a final candidate with the conclusion of early voting and a May 17 primary.

Both groups tried to frame the issue as one of federal overreach versus individual or states rights.

A recently released poll, meanwhile, showed Americans by a 2-to-1 margin said the court should uphold Roe v. Wade. The survey by the Washington Post and ABC News was conducted last week and found 54% of Americans favored upholding the law, while 28% said it should be overturned.

New law?

Two Democrats matched a call coming from the left to pass a law to override the decision.

"I promise to immediately pass legislation to overturn this ignorant ruling, and permanently codify a woman’s right to choose," said Carey, a retired Army combat veteran.

Clinical social worker Bo Hess said regardless of the final court decision he would "pledge to fight to codify Roe v. Wade, revive the Equal Rights Amendment and protect women’s health above and beyond this issue."

Nevarez in a statement said the next Congress "must for the sake of uniformity, codify women's healthcare access into federal law with experts (women), doctors, and community leaders coming together to determine what the law will encompass."

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"We must for the sake of uniformity, codify abortion into federal law. Balancing personal rights with the rights to life," said the moderate Republican, a Navy veteran and legal assistant living in Asheville.

Last year, the Democratically controlled House passed abortion rights legislation 218 to 211, but in the Senate, Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia joined Republicans in voting it down.

States rights

Many of the Republicans said it was appropriate for states to make the decision about abortion legality.

"I celebrate that these are state decisions, not that of an over-reaching federal government!" said Michele Woodhouse, the former chair of the GOP's 11th District organization.

Matthew Burril, a retired financial adviser and chair of the Asheville Regional Airport Authority, said the "Constitution does not address abortion and the Supreme Court erred by even making a decision on it in the first place."

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Bruce O'Connell, manager of the Blue Ridge Parkway's Pisgah Inn, said his personal pro-life views were less important than rolling back federal control.

"The federal government needs to stay out of this and it also needs to stay out of many other things including education," O'Connell said.

Response from Democrats

Katie Dean

Our rights are under attack. The U.S. government should not and cannot be in the business of regulating bodily autonomy. The vigilante laws they’re using to pit citizens against each other are fundamentally un-American.

I am fully dedicated to standing shoulder to shoulder with every person who wants to work to reduce abortion in our world. We have to have access to education and preventative healthcare to do so.

Inch by inch, they’re unraveling our democratic institutions and social safety nets right in front of our face. The stakes of the 2022 midterms couldn’t be any higher.

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Bo Hess

Overturning a supreme court decision with as much precedent as this is wrong and it is cruel and it is playing with the very real lives of millions of Americans.

Every American should have the unalienable right to bodily autonomy. This is espoused in the founding document of our nation with the phrase, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Liberty is being able to conduct one's life unencumbered by the government’s hand. If we do indeed move into a post-Roe America, we will be continuing down the dangerous path of authoritarianism and putting undue burden on the lives of every American with a uterus and their families.

We already know that there are at least twelve states with trigger laws outright banning abortion ready to go into effect. We cannot fail the most vulnerable among us by pressing forward on this path. We must hold the line on democracy.

Regardless of the Supreme Court decision–once in Congress I pledge to fight to codify Roe v Wade, Revive the Equal Rights Amendment, and protect women’s health above and beyond this issue.

My heart is with every American who is hurting today. I recognize that “thoughts and prayers” will not fix this crusade against our rights and I urge everyone to take this seriously and vote like your rights depend on it–because they do.

Jasmine Beach-Ferrara

I support the right to choose and federal legislation to protect this right. A clear majority of Americans support Roe v. Wade and our country now faces the chilling reality that the right to health care, the right to privacy, the right to choose all of these hang in the balance with this forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

We need to elect pro choice candidates to every level of office who will fight for policies that will protect privacy and reproductive rights and address the urgent need to improve maternal mortality. Not to mention the critical work of passing policies like the child tax credit and universal Pre-K to ensure that every child can thrive.

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Bynum M. Lunsford

I believe you should address the results of stopping abortion first, the babies. Who is responsible? Possible forever healthcare, education, food and clothing.

It is the female who should be responsible for birthing (not politicians). Mothers will make the best decision for themselves and their babies; the was it is throughout nature!

Jay Carey

I believe that reversing Roe v. Wade is not only a big step back for women’s rights, but also opens the door to reversing other decisions that have upheld basic human rights. These decisions include same sex and inter-racial marriage, the right to use contraception as well as other basic human rights that every American citizen is entitled to. Even our basic right to privacy is threatened by this clearly political decision by the Court.

This decision also violates the 14th Amendment which states…"[No] State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges… of citizens; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property …[nor] deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

This ruling, should it stand, will immediately confer to every American woman second-class status regarding their personal medical choices. This is clearly an affront to every citizen. At no time should the government be in the business of dictating private medical decisions. This is a massive governmental and judicial overreach. If elected, I promise to immediately pass legislation to overturn this ignorant ruling, and permanently codify a woman’s right to choose.

Response from Republicans

Bruce O'Connell

The federal government needs to stay out of this and it also needs to stay out of many other things including education. I believe in law and order therefore I fully support the Supreme Court's decision. The fact that the decision was leaked is another example of why we cannot keep sending people to Washington who are doing it for political reasons or gain. The leak was obviously a political tactic designed to influence the court. Not good!

Wendy Marie-Limbaugh Nevarez

The leaked SCOTUS decision is a breach of trust and erodes the foundations that our judicial system is built on. However, it also presents an opportunity to have robust public discussion on critical issues that impacts all American. I urge the Supreme Court to uphold the existing decision which they are entrusted to do.

First and foremost, I am a proud mother of four. Life to me is precious. The decision to start a family is a personal one and should take place between consenting adults who are prepared to take on raising children. Historically, common sense shows us that this is not how all children are conceived.

I firmly believe that abortion should not be used as a means of birth control and to that effect, we need to revisit how sex education is taught amongst our youth as well as make contraceptives more easily accessible for the lowest possible cost and/or completely free. 85% of abortions performed are for people under the age of 30 and 60% are under the age of 20. It is obvious that there is a disconnect here.

As it stands now, a woman’s right to safe healthcare is constitutional. The leaked decision states, “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” We, the next Congress, must for the sake of uniformity, codify women's healthcare access into federal law with experts (women), doctors, and community leaders coming together to determine what the law will encompass. Balancing personal rights with the rights to life. Therefore, it is as important as ever to choose your representatives wisely.

Matthew Burril

As a 100% pro-life evangelical conservative Christian, I pray that this draft decision is the court’s final ruling.

The 1973 Supreme Court ruling in the case Roe vs Wade has never settled our national debate regarding abortion. Justice Alito specifically references this conflict in his leaked opinion. "This court cannot bring about the permanent resolution of a rancorous national controversy by dictating a settlement and telling people to move on."

Justice Alito is correct. The Constitution does not address abortion and the Supreme Court erred by even making a decision on it in the first place. This is a states right issue, and the Supreme Court removed the protection of the State's ability to act on this important matter.

At last, the Supreme Court is recognizing the original Constitutional intent of states rights and our individual protections provided by the Bill of Rights that also protect individuals from the overreaching power of the federal government.

This is exactly what conservative Americans want. More individual freedoms and personal responsibility coupled with less federal government restrictions which uniformly dismisses our Constitutional rights.

Chuck Edwards

SCOTUS must rule based on our Constitution, not the mobs they see out their window. If they do that, the abominable decision of 1973 will be overturned.

We pray the 1973 abomination is about to end.

Rod Honeycutt

America thanks all the childcare providers, foster parents and parents of adopted children. We thank our communities for supporting these people as they do God's work.

Tonight, let us say a prayer for life and that our Justices remain steadfast in their convictions. Here in North Carolina, we will continue fighting for the unborn.

I am proud to be in a state that has strong pro-life support. We defend innocent human life that has its own beating heart and unique DNA. The right to life is our most precious liberty.

Madison Cawthorn

Because of Donald J. Trump, Roe v. Wade will be overturned.

Prayer warriors: This leak was meant to intimidate the Supreme Court into backing down. Pray for the end of Roe v. Wade. Pray the court will defend innocent life. Pray the court will stand strong. Evil must not triumph. Science, common sense, and life will win.

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Michele Woodhouse

If reports that Roe is being overturned by SCOTUS are true, then my work as a pro-life warrior have been successful!

I celebrate that these are state decisions, not that of an over-reaching federal government! As congresswoman, I’ll also protect innocent yet-to-be-born life!

Abortion is not health care.

Kristie Sluder

Why do these Secular Leftists care about women's rights, when they've worked so hard for two years to destroy them?

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC congressional candidates: Roe Supreme Court abortion draft opinion