Democratic Wins Create Abortion Rights Opportunities in States With Strict Laws
Stateline, November 9, 2026
“Sweeping Democratic election wins could advance abortion access in states with tight restrictions, especially in Georgia, Iowa and Texas, where Democrats seized the governor’s office for the first time in decades. All three states will have Democratic attorneys general, and in Georgia and Texas, Democrats will control the state House while Republicans retain the state Senate. Texas has a strict abortion ban, while Iowa and Georgia only allow it up to about six weeks of pregnancy. Meanwhile, in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Democrats have won new ‘trifectas’ – control of the governor’s office and both legislative chambers – creating new opportunities to expand abortion rights. Both Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Wisconsin Democratic Gov.-elect David Crowley have already pledged to codify abortion rights through state law or constitutional amendment.”
Attorney General-Elect Explains How He’ll Enforce Texas Abortion Law, Whether He’ll Investigate Ken Paxton, More
WFAA, November 6, 2026
“Unthinkable for three decades, Texas Democrats finally broke through the red wall and will assume control of all of the top offices in state government. That includes the office of Attorney General, after Democrat Nathan Johnson defeated Republican Mayes Middleton by nearly 650,000 votes. Both candidates were state Senators when they ran. In terms of the state’s abortion law, the Attorney General-elect has already said he will not sue out-of-state abortion doctors. And he says his message to Texas women is one of respect. ‘Ken Paxton has used Texas abortion law as a political tool and as a tool to intimidate, harass, and persecute. That will cease,’ Johnson explained. ‘If some county thinks they’re going to pass an ordinance that says you cannot drive through on our roads on your way to New Mexico to receive abortion services, that’s not going to fly. If somebody is trying to interpret a 100 year old law in a way that’s twisted, you’re going to get an attorney general opinion that says that’s twisted and it’s going to have weight.’”
Judge Lets Challenge to Arkansas’ Abortion Ban Proceed
Arkansas Times, November 10, 2026
“A lawsuit challenging the state’s near-total abortion ban is permitted to continue, according to an order issued on Friday, Nov. 6, by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Cara Connors. This order largely denies an attempt by the defense to have the case dismissed. Waldorf v. Arkansas was first brought in January by seven plaintiffs, including six patients and one OB-GYN who allege Arkansas’s abortion ban – which passed in 2022 and outlaws all abortions except to spare the life of the mother – violates their constitutional right to life and liberty, among other claims. The women in the case were all denied care or received delayed care under the ban, to dangerous effect in some instances. The case’s lead plaintiff, Emily Waldorf of Fayetteville, was left in medical limbo after her water broke 17 weeks into her pregnancy and doctors wavered on whether she was sick enough to obtain an abortion. Waldorf paid out of pocket to take an ambulance across state lines to have the procedure.”
Healey Takes Emergency Action To Implement New MA Abortion Law
GBH, November 6, 2026
“Gov. Maura Healey has signed an emergency order to enact one of the nation’s most expansive abortion laws, leapfrogging anti-abortion advocates who’d gathered signatures in an attempt to freeze the law’s implementation. Now, anyone in Massachusetts can legally get an abortion at any point in their pregnancy, as long as they have a doctor’s signoff. ‘Here in Massachusetts, home to the best doctors and hospitals in the world and some of the strongest abortion protections in the country, a family facing unimaginable heartbreak was turned away,’ Healey wrote Friday. ‘They were fortunate to have the resources to travel out of state and pay out of pocket for care – many others cannot. And they’re not alone.’ The new law was passed this summer. But backers of a proposed 2028 ballot question that seeks to repeal that law said last week they’d hit the signature-gathering benchmark, which would have prevented it from taking effect unless Healey chose to implement the law on an emergency basis.”
What Is the Don’t Flush Babies Act? Bill Introduces Catch Kits for Abortion
Newsweek, November 11, 2026
“Women taking abortion pills at home could be given special kits to collect fetal remains under a new bill introduced in Congress. The Don’t Flush Babies Act, introduced by South Carolina Republican Representative Sheri Biggs earlier this month, would also require abortion pill packaging to carry warnings against flushing fetal remains down the toilet. The legislation would make abortion providers responsible for accepting remains returned by patients and arranging their burial or cremation, with fines of up to $150,000 and possible prison sentences for certain violations. Supporters say the measures would protect water supplies and ensure fetal remains are handled respectfully, while critics say ‘catch kits’ add barriers to care. The proposal comes as medication abortion remains a major focus of the national debate over terminations.”
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Note: The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
