MOUNT VERNON – The chair of the Knox County Democratic Party said her party needs to get people running for state and federal legislative positions for the midterms in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order on June 24 that permitted the Ohio Department of Health to adopt a rule that sets rules for the Heartbeat bill, which he signed into law in 2019. Abortions are now banned in the state starting at six weeks, when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, according to LifeNews, a pro-life news agency.
“Those of you who are pro-choice believe this is a matter of freedom and is a decision only the woman can make,” DeWine said after the Supreme Court decision was announced.” Those who are pro-life, including my wife, Fran, and me, believe that the life of a human being is at stake and that we have an obligation to protect that innocent life.”
Kathleen Tate told the Mount Vernon News that the Knox County Democratic Party will be looking for a write-in candidate for the state Senate seat.
But the chair of the Knox County Republican Party doesn’t think the federal abortion rights decision will mean much in the next election.
“I don’t believe it will have much of an impact on the mid-term elections,” GOP chair Thom Collier told the Mount Vernon News. People who are pro-abortion will still vote for pro-abortion candidates, and people who are pro-life will continue to support pro-life candidates.
Tate said Knox County is two-thirds Republican, but matching demographics across the United States, there are more women than men. She said her comments are her own opinions, as the party's county committee had discussed the issue but had yet to issue a statement.
“So, unless all of the women get together and really raise their voices and say, ‘This is absolutely ridiculous, that men have no right to tell us what we are going to do with our bodies,’ we're going to have a problem with the midterms,” Tate said.
Collier said he believes people on both sides of the issue will become more vocal, active and hopefully more aware.
“We are blessed to live in a very giving and caring community,” he said. “There are a number of local nonprofit organizations, which have existed for years, who have, and will continue, to support women and/or couples who face crisis pregnancies.”
He named Parenting Plus, Starting Point, Place4Grace, TouchPointe and many area churches among those organizations.
“Anyone who finds themself, or a loved one, in a crisis has options and caring people who are well-equipped to assist them,” Collier said. “Hopefully, people will support and utilize these services more than ever.”
