“I’ve thought a lot about my faith. I was actually anti-abortion until I went to college. And there I met a friend who shares my religious values, but we started talking about reproductive care and abortion. And when I talk about that, it was an experience I had because it was able to give me a different perspective,” Abrams told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” when asked how her Christian faith influences her thinking on the issue.
“And over the next few years, I really started thinking about what role should the legislature play, what role should the government play?” she continued. “This is health care. It’s about a woman’s right to control her own body. . . . And that, for me as a matter of faith, means I don’t impose those value systems on others. More importantly, I protect her rights, I protect her humanity and that must be my responsibility.”
The ban, signed by Kemp in 2019, bans abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy – when many women don’t even know they’re pregnant. The law was later blocked by a federal district judge as unconstitutional. However, after Roe was overturned, a federal appeals court allowed it to take effect.
Asked by Bash how she would fight for abortion rights with a Republican-controlled state legislature, Abrams said such a scenario wouldn’t be the first time she’s had to interact with people of different political ideologies.
“I served 11 years in the legislature, seven years as the Democratic leader, as the minority leader, and I was extremely successful,” he said.
“I understand how to negotiate and how to navigate, but what I also understand is that the majority of Georgians don’t like this law — it’s an extreme prohibition, it’s dangerous, and it affects women across the spectrum,” she added. .
“Electing me as governor will be a sea change and a strong message to the rest of the legislature that they must do right by the women of Georgia,” Abrams said.
“If he chooses to run again, I’m there to support him,” Abrams told Bash.