The Nevada Independent this morning reported on leaked audio in which Republican Senate Nominee Adam Laxalt called the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision a “joke” and said that it is “sad” that Nevada is not more anti-abortion, adding his view that “we got work to do on that” — a position that puts him at odds with the solid majority of Nevadans who support the right to abortion care.
Laxalt touts the endorsement of various anti-abortion rights groups and Mitch McConnell, who has said that it’s “possible” a GOP-controlled Senate would look to pass a federal abortion ban. Laxalt has previously said he would “look into” reversing Nevada’s 1990s referendum that protected abortion rights in the state and “passed with support from nearly two-thirds of Nevadans.” . And, as Attorney General, Laxalt “signed onto multiple legal efforts to restrict abortion access.”
These leaked comments from Laxalt show definitively that he remains committed to his career-long effort to restrict and ban access to abortion care. And they’re just the latest proof that Laxalt is wrong for Nevada.
Nevada Independent: Laxalt calls 1973 Roe v. Wade decision ‘a joke,’ bemoans Nevada’s abortion protections
By Tabitha Mueller | June 30, 2022
Key Points:
- “Earlier this month, Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former Attorney General Adam Laxalt called the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision ‘a joke’ and said it’s ‘sad’ that Nevada is not anti-abortion.”
- “Laxalt made the comments during a June 6 pancake breakfast with pastors and faith leaders in Reno, and audio from that event was obtained by The Nevada Independent. It marks some of the bluntest language used by Laxalt on the subject of abortion this election cycle.”
- “[I]n his comments to faith leaders in Reno, Laxalt noted recent polling showing a solid majority of Nevadans describe themselves as ‘pro-choice,’ and said there is work to do around the issue.”
- “‘We’re not a pro-life state. We all have to be honest about that. It’s sad, it doesn’t make me happy,’ Laxalt told the assembled faith leaders. ‘But we are not a pro-life state and we got work to do on that.’”
- “Laxalt has not directly responded to specific questions about his stance on abortion protections and has avoided stating how he would vote if the question of codifying abortion protections came before the Senate. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in mid-May that he would support a new statewide referendum to enact a strict 13-week abortion ban.”
- “As attorney general, Laxalt signed onto multiple legal efforts to restrict abortion access. In his current run for U.S. Senate, he has been endorsed by anti-abortion groups Nevada Right to Life and National Right to Life. Laxalt holds the endorsement of former President Donald Trump and a host of other conservative elected officials, including Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). McConnell said in May that a national abortion ban is ‘possible’ if the courts overturned Roe v. Wade and if Republicans flip the Senate in 2022.”
Read the full Nevada Independent report here.
Published: Jun 30, 2022 | Last Modified: Aug 26, 2022