West Coast governors line up behind abortion

The governors of California, Oregon, and Washington on Friday committed to protecting patients and medical professionals providing abortions — including from potential out-of-state criminal investigations. The governors published a video statement following the release of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the states were “building the West Coast offense to protect patients’ access to reproductive care.”

What are other states doing? About half the U.S. states either have laws automatically protecting babies from abortion in the event that Roe v. Wade was overturned or are likely to institute new safeguards for the unborn. The remaining states may expand abortion following the ruling. Raúl Torrez, a top public prosecutor and attorney general candidate in New Mexico, is urging the state to approve legislation to provide legal protections for women who travel there for abortions.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals about California’s preparations to become an abortion destination.