Republican Govs. Larry Hogan (MD), Charlie Baker (MA), Chris Sununu (NH), and Phil Scott (VT) pledged to uphold abortion in their states after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday.
Some governors showed stronger support for abortion than others.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan
Hogan's response was perhaps the most ambiguous of the four.
"I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Maryland, and that is what I have always done and will continue to do as governor," Hogan said in an email on Friday, adding that his state passed laws 30 years ago to uphold abortion, the Washington Post reports.
Hogan "is a Catholic who personally opposes abortion but has generally avoided weighing in on the issue," according to WaPo. He previously vetoed a pro-abortion bill that ultimately got overruled by his state legislature.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker
Baker issued an executive order on Friday to "protect access to reproductive health care services" (i.e., abortion) in Massachusetts.
"I am deeply disappointed in today's decision by the Supreme Court which will have major consequences for women across the country," Baker said in a statement on Friday.
"The Commonwealth has long been a leader in protecting a woman's right to choose and access to reproductive health services, while other states have criminalized or otherwise restricted access."
"This executive order will further preserve that right and protect reproductive health care providers who serve out of state residents."
"In light of the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v Wade, it is especially important to ensure that Massachusetts providers can continue to provide reproductive health care services."
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu
Sununu said in a statement on Friday that abortion will remain legal in his state. He said he is a "pro-choice governor" that will keep New Hampshire a "pro-choice state," WaPo reports.
Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont
Scott said he is "deeply disappointed" with the Supreme Court decision and that "a woman's right to choose is a principle [Vermont] will uphold."
In 2019, Scott signed a bill into law that "establishes as a fundamental right the right to choose ... to have an abortion." He said the 2019 law "does not change" after the Supreme Court's decision.
Vermont residents will vote on constitutional amendment Proposal 5 in November, which states "reproductive liberty" (i.e., abortion) is an "exercise of personal autonomy." Scott said he will vote in favor of the amendment, which would enshrine abortion as a constitutional right in the state.
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