The Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade abortion decision. Oklahoma leaders react

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned a landmark ruling that found women had a constitutional right to seek an abortion.

The high court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey elicited praise from Oklahoma's Republican elected officials and dismay from abortion rights supporters.

Related: Roe v. Wade has been overturned. What that means for Oklahoma’s abortion 'trigger' law

Here's how local officials responded:

Gov. Kevin Stitt

“I am very excited that the Supreme Court made this courageous decision. Abortion is a state’s rights issue and it belongs to the people. I promised Oklahomans I would sign every pro-life bill that came across my desk and I am proud to have kept that promise, especially today as Oklahoma now has trigger laws to ban abortion in our state."

More: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs nation's strictest abortion ban. It starts immediately

House Minority Leader Emily Virgin and House Caucus Chair Cyndi Munson

“Today, the sky is dark. There is no way to sugarcoat that women in America, especially in states like Oklahoma, have fewer rights now than they did when they woke up this morning.

We know that Oklahoma’s restrictive abortion laws are not popular and that most Oklahomans believe this fundamental truth: abortion is health care. Yet legislative Republicans continue to propose and pass the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, which will result in women and pregnant people dying because they cannot access the health care they need."

Attorney General John O'Connor

“After almost 50 years, the U.S. Supreme Court has wiped one of the most horrifying opinions in American history from the books. It has courageously done so in the face of intimidation, leaks, violence, and even an assassination attempt.

Roe not only took away over 60 million lives, it also barred Oklahomans and all other Americans from protecting our unborn children. We should help every woman facing a crisis pregnancy, but not at the cost of the innocent child’s life. This is truly a day for celebration and thanksgiving.”

More: What we know about Oklahoma's new abortion ban — the strictest in the nation

Planned Parenthood Great Plains President and CEO Emily Wales

“State by state, we have seen access to abortion virtually eliminated. Oklahoma recently enacted the first total abortion ban most Americans have seen in their lifetime. Even while reproductive rights were being taken away before our very eyes, many people still doubted Roe could ever fall.

Today this creeping march to crush fundamental freedoms has reached its awful conclusion: your body is not your own. Your rights are entirely dependent on where you reside. Yet in this very grim moment in American history, Planned Parenthood Great Plains’ doors are still open and will stay open, to provide sexual and reproductive care today, tomorrow, and for years to come. Our services may be forced to change due to cruel bans on abortion care, but our commitment to our patients remains.”

More: Oklahoma could ban most abortions if US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe

“I am overjoyed to hear that the Supreme Court has announced its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade today. For almost 50 years, our nation has wrongly operated under the tragic belief that there is a constitutional “right” to end the lives of those who cannot speak for themselves. The Court has now rightfully declared that Roe was wrong from the start, and we can begin to chart a new course on the journey to protect life.

U.S. Sen. James Lankford

“Today is a historic day for our nation and for life. After praying, speaking and challenging our nation for years to see the value of every child, I am overwhelmed with joy for our nation and for the lives of unborn children who will have a chance to grow up because of the Supreme Court’s action and the stand of millions of Americans for life. Oklahoma is leading the way to immediately protect each child. We will continue to help support and protect mothers and children while encouraging fatherhood and family involvement for all children.”

Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City

“I am outraged by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The court’s radical and wrongly decided opinion not only takes away fundamental constitutional rights but also seriously endangers the health of women all across our country.

“Unfortunately, the relentless assault on women’s reproductive rights in Oklahoma began long before today’s decision and we should expect it to continue. Now we must channel our anger and sorrow into determination and peaceful but forceful action."

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City

“My constituents in Oklahoma overwhelmingly support pro-life protections. I am pleased that the Supreme Court has reversed the Roe v. Wade opinion, putting the power back into the hands of state legislatures and the electorate rather than non-elected Justices. This decision reverses the radical abortion policies of our country, which mirror countries like North Korea and China. In Congress, I will continue to fight for unborn babies and advocate for policies that support moms who wish to give their child the gift of life through adoption.”

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne

“Today’s ruling rightfully affirms the right to legislate abortion belongs to individual states. As our Founding Fathers advocated through the ideals of federalism, and as is ensured by the 10thAmendment, powers not delegated to the Federal government by the U.S. Constitution shall be reserved to the States or the People. While states like New York and California enact irreprehensible abortion policies, the Supreme Court’s opinion confirms that the power to protecting life is in the hands of elected individuals.”

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore

“The Supreme Court’s highly anticipated opinion gives America’s 50 separate and unique states and their voters the authority to determine their own policies concerning abortion, rather than unelected judges and bureaucrats. Indeed, since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, it was immediately controversial and quickly became an outdated decision due to rapid advancements in medicine and science. As a proud defender of unborn life throughout my entire career, both in Congress and in the Oklahoma State Legislature, I am pleased that voters will now have a voice on this important issue.”

State schools Superintendent and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joy Hofmeister

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City

"Those of us in the pro-life movement have long dreamt of this day, and we have been ridiculed for believing the day would ever come. The work, the prayers, the advocacy that countless dedicated men and women have done since the egregious decision was handed down on January 22, 1973, has come to fruition. Praise God!

“Oklahomans overwhelmingly value life. As a state we are extremely well positioned to be able to protect life from its beginning to its natural end. We have enacted laws that anticipated this day and now Oklahoma can fully protect life.”

House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka

“Decades of steadfast prayer and unwavering legislative efforts to protect the lives of the unborn have finally prevailed. Overturning Roe v. Wade justifies the long battle by Oklahoma House Republicans and pro-life allies nationwide to return this matter to the duly elected representatives of state legislatures to decide.

With Roe overturned and Oklahoma’s several proactive, pro-life policies already in immediate effect, the stage is set for Oklahoma to be America’s most pro-life state."

U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Markwayne Mullin, R-Westville

“The Scales of Justice have weighed in favor of life. This is a historic day in our country. The sanctity of every life has prevailed and the unalienable rights prescribed by our forefathers have been restored. I am grateful for the system of checks and balances that allows for judicial review of prior decisions. And I am grateful as well for the affirmation of States’ rights, allowing states like Oklahoma to elevate life.”

Former U.S. Rep. and current U.S. Senate candidate Kendra Horn

“Today’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade is a devastating blow for the health and wellbeing of all women. It is government overreach, plain and simple, and it’s wrong. Never before has the Supreme Court overturned five decades of precedent to take away rights from more than half of all Americans. It’s especially dangerous for Oklahoma women, because a complete ban on abortion starting at fertilization is now a reality in our state."

U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Tulsa

"Today, the Supreme Court correctly reversed this unconstitutional decision and returned the question to the states. I am proud to support life at every stage and applaud the Supreme Court for their thoughtful and attentive consideration of this important case in the face of unprecedented threats of violence and intimidation against the Court.”

ACLU of Oklahoma Executive Director Tamya Cox-Touré

“The Supreme Court ruling is an unprecedented attack on reproductive freedom and body autonomy, but anti-abortion politicians do not get the final say on our fundamental rights — we do. For far too many weeks, Oklahoma residents have had fewer rights than people in other states in this country, putting our state on the wrong side of history. Banning abortion is deeply unpopular in Oklahoma and across the country, and there will be no place for the politicians who pass these laws to hide from the consequences of their cruel actions.”

Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City

“This is an historic day in the pro-life movement. The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a defining moment in our lifetime that fixes a legal and moral mistake, which led to decades of emotional distress, tremendous guilt, physical harm and infertility for women, and the unnecessary and cruel deaths of more than 63 million unborn babies who were denied their God-given potential because of poverty, fear or convenience. Women and children deserve better. Mothers who face unexpected or crisis pregnancies need support – financial, spiritual and emotional. May they see the face of God in their children and embrace the joy, beauty and difficulties of motherhood. We must come together to pray for the grace to deepen our appreciation for the sanctity and value of all human life from conception until natural death.”

This is developing story and will be updated. 

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma leaders react to Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade