MADISON, Wis. — This week, Republicans in the state legislature are circulating a nearly identical version of the divisive Texas abortion ban, doubling down on their commitment to strip Wisconsinites of access to reproductive health care. The bill, which bans abortion before a person may even know they are pregnant, doesn’t make any exceptions in cases of rape or incest. 

Wisconsin has seen an onslaught of attempts to pass restrictive abortion laws in recent years. Though abortion remains safe and legal in our state for now, without a Democratic governor to block these attacks, Republicans would be able to pass draconian abortion laws.

GOP candidate Rebecca Kleefisch, who just today proudly announced an endorsement from an anti-choice group, has vowed to sign a Texas-style ban on abortion in Wisconsin. As lieutenant governor, Kleefisch worked to pass five bills limiting critical reproductive health care access — and even agreed that survivors of rape should “turn lemons into lemonade” instead of being empowered to make their own, personal decisions.

While Kleefisch and her rival candidate Kevin Nicholson don’t always see eye to eye — the two do share the same radical beliefs on reproductive health care. During his last failed campaign, Nicholson received a perfect “100 percent” rating from Pro-Life Wisconsin, which confirmed to the Associated Press that Nicholson promised to support all of their demands, including banning abortion “in all cases,” with no exceptions for rape, incest, or when a mother’s life is in jeopardy.

It’s not just abortion that’s at stake. Nicholson’s extreme agenda for our health care could outlaw forms of contraception, jeopardize fertility treatments like IVF, and strip access to basic health care for tens of thousands of Wisconsinites, including cancer screenings, birth control, and STD testing and treatment. 

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben WIkler released the following statement:

“This bill is a warning: if a Republican like Kevin Nicholson or Rebecca Kleefisch becomes governor in Wisconsin, they will take away access to reproductive health care on day one. Tens of thousands of Wisconsinites will not only lose access to critical abortion services, but they could also lose access to fertility treatments like IVF, cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing and treatment, and more.

“Pregnant people and their families, not politicians, should make their health care decisions. But every single Wisconsin Republican running for governor has staked out the most extreme, divisive position on reproductive health care. We need leaders who believe health care should be accessible and affordable for all, not politicians who will do everything in their power to restrict it. Wisconsinites can count on Governor Evers to do the right thing and defend Wisconsinites’ right to access reproductive health care.”

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