Press Release California
Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Former State Sen. Erica Smith to Represent North Carolina’s 1st U.S. Congressional District
For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 29, 2022
Contact: [email protected]
Washington, DC — Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced its endorsement of former State Senator Erica Smith in her bid to represent North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju released the following statement:
“NARAL is thrilled to endorse former state Sen. Erica Smith in her bid to represent North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. State Sen. Smith is a stalwart champion for reproductive freedom and a dedicated public servant, and we know she will bring that same commitment to Congress. In this pivotal moment in the fight for abortion rights and access, it is more important than ever that we elect champions like her who will fight to protect and advance reproductive freedom for everybody.”
Former state Senator Erica Smith, candidate for Congress, said:
“Reproductive freedom is on the ballot in NC-01. With safe and legal access to abortion under attack and at risk all over the country, it’s critical that we elect Representatives who understand what’s at stake and who we can trust to codify Roe. I’m grateful to NARAL for their support and look forward to working together to win this race and protect a woman’s right to choose.”
State Sen. Smith—a former engineer, educator, and minister—is a dedicated public servant and a bold advocate for reproductive freedom and abortion access. During her six years as a state senator, Smith worked to protect reproductive freedom and voting rights. As a legislator, Smith’s career has been focused on fighting injustice and inequality, including inequities in the healthcare system.
This endorsement comes as NARAL Pro-Choice America is ramping up our work to elect candidates up and down the ballot during a critical moment in the fight for reproductive freedom. In the coming months, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—a case about Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban that directly challenges Roe v. Wade. If Roe falls, 28 states—including three that border North Carolina—are likely to take action to prohibit abortion outright, and there could be a are likely to take action to prohibit abortion outright, and there could be a 4,672% increase in women whose nearest abortion provider would be in North Carolina. Pregnant people in North Carolina already face medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion care, including biased counseling, mandatory delays, and restrictions on medication abortion.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.