Follow Kansas’ example: Don’t let politicians strip away your reproductive rights | Opinion

This month marks the second anniversary of a historic vote that fundamentally changed the narrative around reproductive rights and abortion in America following the fall of Roe v. Wade. It brought a glimmer of hope to millions of Americans of all political stripes at a time of fear and despair. And it came from our home state of Kansas.

On Aug. 2, 2022, Kansas became the first state in the nation to vote on abortion rights after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson. And we were the first — of what has now become many — to deliver a stunning and decisive victory for freedom and reproductive rights. That remarkable night, Kansas shocked the nation and the national pundits and politicians who thought they understood our state, women and abortion politics in red and purple states.

It was a historic moment for our state and our nation. For me, it was a deeply personal and emotional win. I have four daughters who face a future with fewer constitutional rights than I had at their age. Looking into their eyes that night as results rolled in brought me sheer relief and indescribable joy. Volunteers, advocates, staff and so many everyday Kansans gave their blood, sweat and tears to protect the future of our state and the lives of millions of women.

While serving as spokesperson for that groundbreaking campaign, I fielded hundreds of press calls from across the country and around the globe. Let’s be frank: Very few political observers or national journalists thought we had a snowball’s chance of success. But what we saw on the ground in the final 40 days between the fall of Roe and the primary election was unlike anything I’d seen before in my decades in politics.

Women and young people who had never been politically active were knocking doors, making calls and talking to friends and neighbors about the complex issue of reproductive rights. That’s because the vote wasn’t only about abortion. It was about who gets to make these deeply personal decisions about contraception, pregnancy, miscarriage and abortion: a woman and her family, or the government. It was about equality, personal liberty and freedom. And as it turns out, those values aren’t nearly as polarizing as some would have us believe.

After the vote, data began to roll in. Turnout in that primary was higher than any in recent memory. In fact, it was double the turnout of primary elections in 2012 and 2014. Women made up almost 56% of voters in the 2022 primary, which is significantly higher than typical elections. And among younger voters, 18 to 24 years old, the electorate was 61% female.

On the heels of our win, reproductive rights scored multiple victories on ballot initiatives in Michigan, Montana, Kentucky, California and Vermont. The fight to defend abortion rights across the country redefined the 2022 midterm elections dramatically.

According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, almost half of 2022 general election voters said the Dobbs decision significantly impacted which candidates they supported for political office. And again, women — specifically young women — felt particularly motivated to fight for their constitutional rights.

In the past two years, I’ve worked on five ballot campaigns in support of reproductive freedom across the United States. We’ve learned many lessons from each one, but a few stand out. First, support for abortion access crosses political lines — it is not a Republican or Democratic issue. Second, Americans do not appreciate politicians meddling in their private lives. And finally, when abortion rights are under real threat, voters show up to defend them. This year will be no different.

In November, we will decide who represents us at the local, state and national level. Many of the politicians who want the job have ignored the will of Kansas voters time and again. Just a few months ago, more than 100 state legislators voted to violate our privacy and our rights by passing more extreme restrictions on our rights. In Congress, the majority of the Kansas delegation ignored the August 2022 vote and continued to attack reproductive rights, in vitro fertilization and contraception. That is unacceptable.

It’s time to use our vote at the ballot box to hold these politicians accountable for their extreme votes. Kansas women knew their freedom and futures were on the line in those pivotal 40 days in the summer of 2022. This November, we can send a message once again that we believe women and families — not the government — should make these personal medical decisions, and we expect our leaders to behave accordingly.

Ashley All is the founder and president of the Kansas Coalition for Common Sense, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that does not lobby.