Andrea Campbell, the Democratic nominee for Massachusetts attorney general, vowed Tuesday to defend reproductive freedom and deftly coordinate the office’s resources should she win the November general election over Republican opponent Jay McMahon.
Campbell, speaking in Boston Tuesday morning at the launch of a new research center at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said the next attorney general must wrestle with the “unique opportunity” to counteract recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court that have undermined constitutional protections.
“Reproductive justice, as we know, is on the ballot. Our freedoms are on the ballot,” said Campbell, a former Boston city councilor and mayoral candidate. “I will absolutely make sure that we continue to have access to a full spectrum of reproductive care, including access to safe and legal abortion because even right here in Massachusetts, we have to remain vigilant.”
Campbell’s message was directed to leading abortion rights advocates, clinicians, researchers and lawmakers, who gathered to celebrate the new ASPIRE Center — or, Advancing Science and Practice through Innovations in Research and Education — that aims to harness collaborative work to safeguard abortion access and education in the commonwealth and across the country.
The sweeping approach took on increased urgency this summer, as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and states enacted trigger laws banning abortions. The procedure remains legal in Massachusetts, including for providers and out-of-state patients who travel here to access care.
In the attorney general post, Campbell said she envisions creating a reproductive justice unit that will coalesce employees from the civil rights and health care divisions, alongside the criminal and government bureaus.
“The unit will also help enforce data privacy laws, develop new ways of holding crisis pregnancy centers accountable and defend our laws from legal challenges in and out of the state,” Campbell told the audience at the ASPIRE Center launch in Allston. “The work you do is so critical now, and of course for the future of the commonwealth, to make sure that we have true reproductive health equity, reproductive justice — and comprehensive sex education intersects, as you all know, with every aspect of a healthy and fair society.”
Massachusetts will be a beacon for accomplishing this work through an inclusive and intersectional lens, Campbell said. Reflecting on discussions with attorneys general candidates from other states, such as Georgia and Texas, Campbell stressed that Massachusetts is “ridiculously blessed” with the ability to keep providing reproductive care services.
- Read more: Healey, Driscoll visit to Latino-owned businesses highlights ‘huge economic engine’ in Mass.
Campbell said she has used the campaign trail as an opportunity to educate voters about the attorney general’s role, connecting Bay Staters with resources and information.
The office, for example, has “incredible power” to ensure people are not defrauded by crisis pregnancy centers that erroneously purport to provide abortion services, Campbell told MassLive. The centers raise consumer protection issues, she said, and “every response should be on the table” for potential violations.
“In the context of Central and Western Mass. where abortion deserts exist, the AG’s office can play a role in closing some of those (gaps), working with Planned Parenthood,” Campbell told MassLive. “Telehealth is going to be critical to closing some of those gaps, not only for reproductive care services, but other health care services and making sure it’s accessible and affordable.”