Press Release

Yesterday at a press conference, Republican Attorney General candidate Doug Wardlow pledged to use the Attorney General’s office to wage an all-out assault on access to abortion in Minnesota.

During his press conference, Wardlow said the following about his plans if elected:

• “I will wage war on Doe v Gomez, which is the Minnesota equivalent of Roe v Wade.” (6:00)
• “Elected representatives of the people of Minnesota have the right to pass laws restricting and prohibiting abortions. Gomez is bad law, it is judicial legislation, and I will fight until it is fully overturned.” (6:40)
• “There is no Constitutional right to abortion. It is not in the text, it is not the intent of the framers of the Constitution. It is nowhere to be found. It is a made-up, invented right. That is bad law. I will do everything in my power to see that overturned and to return the power to prohibit and limit abortion to the representatives of the people.” (8:20)

In response, DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Doug Wardlow has made it clear that he will be one of the most extreme, anti-abortion Attorney Generals in the entire country. If elected, Wardlow will wage war on abortion access, work to overturn the abortion protections we have in place, and ultimately jail women and their doctors for making private health care decisions.

“Make no mistake, abortion is on the ballot this year.”

This is not the first time Wardlow has pledged to end abortion protections in Minnesota. During a debate, Wardlow attacked Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Gomez, and pledged to emulate the Attorney General of Mississippi, whose lawsuit brought the challenge that ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade.