Overview
- David Crowley said he will work, if elected governor, to put a constitutional amendment in place that would establish a fundamental right to make reproductive health decisions.
- Tom Tiffany responded that he will uphold Wisconsin’s existing abortion restrictions, including the 20-week ban he supported while in the state Legislature.
- To amend the state constitution the measure must pass two separate legislative sessions and then win a majority in a statewide referendum, a process a governor can advocate for but cannot unilaterally complete.
- Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit in September challenging several abortion laws and asking a judge to declare a constitutional right to abortion, creating a legal path that could change enforcement independent of an amendment.
- Wisconsin currently enforces a 20-week ban, prohibits telehealth for medication abortions, and requires an ultrasound and counseling at least 24 hours before the procedure, rules that directly affect patients and that both campaigns are using to define their records for voters.