Abortion rights primary focus for Doug Emhoff in Tucson visit

PHOENIX – It was a day of political events in Tucson on Thursday with former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff speaking at different engagements.

The second gentleman informed his supporters of the stakes of this year’s election, calling it one the most important elections in the nation’s lifetime, specifically because of reproductive rights.

“One of the reasons why, is this issue of reproductive freedom and that Donald Trump and his little sidekick JD Vance … wants to continue this extremist crusade that none of us want,” Emhoff said. “The vast majority of Americans do not [want] to dismantle women reproductive rights and make women somehow less than, less than citizens and it’s just not fair and it cannot stand and it will not stand.”

In a nearly half hour long speech, Emhoff expressed that the majority of Americans support legal abortion. Research has shown this to be mostly true. A Pew Research Center study revealed that 63% of U.S. adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. When it broke down to party though, 57% of people who identify as a Republican supported making abortions illegal in all or most cases.

Despite support, abortion laws returned to the states in June 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The domino effect led to nine states banning abortions with no exceptions for rape or incest. Emhoff targeted these laws, calling them immoral and barbaric.

“It’s wrong and everyone’s got to stand up and fight against it and vote,” Emhoff said.

Harris has campaigned that she will not allow a national abortion ban if elected and promised that if Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedoms nationwide, she will sign it.

The 59-year-old encouraged voters to not just rely on voting for his wife, but to vote for local democrats such as U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego and other downballot candidates. Emhoff highlighted the importance of voting for Prop 139, an Arizona proposition that if voted in would create a fundamental right to an abortion, establish limitations for the state to prevent an abortion and protects people who assist others in getting an abortion from state penalties.

A personal matter, not just a political one

Emhoff returned supporters to the day Roe v. Wade was overturned, telling them of how it impacted him and the women in his family. It was Harris who was the first to break the news to him.

“I’ve literally never heard her more upset,” Emhoff said. “I could hear the rage and anger in her voice because it was that day and that moment that I found out that the Supreme Court had overturned Roe v Wade.”

Shortly afterwards, he received a text from his 23-year-old daughter, Ella, who expressed it was a horrible day and urged her father to fight for abortion rights.

His 83-year-old mother was the third to call, repeating his daughter’s call to action. Emhoff’s mother represented to him the many women who fought for reproductive freedoms that had seen their work ripped away.

“I talk about this issue not because it is a women’s issue. I talk about this because it’s an issue for all of us,” Emhoff said.

The second gentleman lamented on the ways abortions bans and changing laws have impacted families and health care professionals.

“I have met with doctors and talk to them all over the country, doctors are leaving states where they cannot fully practice medicine,” Emhoff said. “And when you have doctors leaving states it’s not just about abortions. It’s about Pap smears and basic health care.”

Emhoff feared that as doctors leave states with restrictive laws, more people will have less access to proper professionals.

While not a study that examined medical professionals leaving sates, an Association of American Medical Colleges study showed that fewer new doctors were applying to medical residency programs in states with abortion bans and restrictions.

Controversy for Trump in Tucson

Trump spoke to a crowd of supporters in Tucson hours before Emhoff’s speech. The engagement was held at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, a sour issue for the namesake of the theatre.

Ronstadt, a Tucson native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, denounced Trump’s visit and has criticized his border policies along with him being found liable for sexual assault.

Emhoff centered his criticisms of Trump on his abortion rhetoric. On Tuesday, during the presidential debate, Trump made false claims about Democrats approving of abortions “after-birth.” He also said it was a “great service” to be involved with picking the judges that overturned Roe. Wade.