Right to Life of Michigan. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Elon Musk.
These are just some of the political action committees and wealthy donors investing millions of dollars into the election campaigns of Republican candidates across the country, including in Michigan, who support legal restrictions on constituents’ access to reproductive healthcare.
Abortion rights advocates in Michigan are pushing back in the battle over reproductive freedom—and they’re bringing powerful allies with them.
This includes Reproductive Freedom for All, one of the largest reproductive rights nonprofit organizations in the country. They were pivotal in mobilizing voters ahead of the 2022 election, when 56% of Michigan voters passed a citizen-led ballot proposal that expanded statewide access to reproductive healthcare.
Since then, the organization has worked alongside reproductive freedom proponents to challenge state and federal lawmakers who promote anti-choice legislation.
Recently, Reproductive Freedom for All announced another opportunity for Michigan voters to mobilize ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
As part of its nationwide, multi-million-dollar “My Body, My Ballot” campaign, Reproductive Freedom for All said it’s investing thousands of dollars in paid canvassing and voter engagement events throughout Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which includes southern Macomb County and a portion of Oakland County. The District is up for grabs as its current congressional representative, Republican Rep. John James, runs for governor.
Reproductive Freedom for All has also endorsed Democrat Christina Hines, a special victims prosecutor, who is running to represent the 10th District in Congress.
“We are investing in Christina Hines’ district because we know she’s a reproductive freedom champion, and she represents the will of her constituents in the 10th Congressional District,” said Shanay Watson-Whittaker, Director of Michigan Campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All, in an interview with The ‘Gander.
Related: Hines vs. Bouchard: Open seat in Macomb County could help decide control of Congress
Watson-Whittaker encouraged Michiganders to get involved in canvassing and other voter engagement events to make their voices heard ahead of the election.
“I remember starting as a paid canvasser and going door-to-door to talk to people about the issues. It empowered me and helped with the trajectory of my career, and I’m hoping people who sign up to join us as canvassers do the same,” said Watson-Whittaker.
“Control of Congress, and our ability to fight back against national attacks on reproductive freedom, could come down to these races with razor-thin margins,” Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju said in a press release regarding the announcement.
“This investment will power meaningful conversations with voters about what is at stake and why electing champions of reproductive freedom is crucial this November,” Timmaraju said.
Meanwhile, advocates with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and its Women Speak Out PAC continue to target voters in Lansing, Detroit, and Grand Rapids, spending $4.5 million to secure Republican candidate Mike Rogers for the open US Senate seat on Nov. 3.
To learn more about Reproductive Freedom for All canvassing and voter mobilization events in Michigan, head over here.
