PA State House candidates say abortion is a top concern for Centre County voters this election
As the election season heats up in Pennsylvania and across the nation, state House candidates in Centre County say that abortion and reproductive rights have been at the forefront of many voters’ minds.
Nationally, abortion has been a bigger focus this year because of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, and for some Pennsylvanians, Senate Bill 106 has become a focus, said Democrat state Rep. Scott Conklin, who is seeking reelection to the 77th House District.
The Supreme Court, with a conservative majority vote, overturned Roe v. Wade in June, ending constitutional protections for abortion in the United States and leaving decisions about abortion access to the individual states.
Under Pennsylvania law, abortion is legal up until 24 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions. That could change after the Nov. 8 election depending on who is elected into various offices.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano has called abortion his “No. 1 issue” and as a state senator has twice introduced legislation that would ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape, incest or parental health. Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro has pledged to veto any legislation that would further limit abortion access in Pennsylvania.
Paul Takac, Democrat candidate for the new House District 82, said his campaign is committed to being a resource for the community. He was recently endorsed by Planned Parenthood and his campaign organized a local Reproductive Justice March in conjunction with the national Women’s March for 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 starting at the Allen Street Gates in downtown State College.
“We’ve recognized that our community wants to process and express their grief, anger, and frustration, and stand together in solidarity and hope over human rights issues,” he wrote in an email. “...We want to amplify the voices of young voters, and people within our communities who know explicitly how necessary reproductive healthcare is to everyone in our commonwealth.”
For more information or to RVSP to the march, visit www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/517240.
What candidates are hearing
Robert Zeigler, the Democratic candidate for House District 171, said reproductive rights is the “number two” issue for voters that his campaign has spoken with, regardless of voter affiliation. Since the court’s decision, there’s been a spike in women voter registrations, too.
“That is because of the disregard for over 50 years of legal precedent. In other words, an issue that shouldn’t be one has become one and it has upset a lot of voters on both sides,” Zeigler wrote in an email.
He said “most voters” think some level of abortion access is necessary and “over half” of the voters in the district support reproductive rights.
A lot of Republican voter households are upset that the door has opened to invading medical and privacy rights with the overturn of Roe v. Wade, too, Zeigler said.
Steve Yetsko, Republican nominee for the 77th House District, said based on his interactions with voters in mainly Patton and Ferguson townships, Republicans and Independents are most concerned about cost of living, energy costs and economic uncertainty. Prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, he heard many Democrats concerned about gun control, Jan. 6 and climate change. But since the overturn, abortion has been the biggest issue for women Dem voters, he said.
“Abortion has continued to be the biggest issue for Democratic women. Many are very passionate about it. I have also noticed more women openly saying they are ‘pro-abortion.’ In the past they would use the term ‘pro-choice.’ I am so thankful for all those who talked with me so that I can better understand their views,” Yetsko wrote in an email.
Takac said he’s heard from many people who are frustrated with the level of “extremism” from Republicans and their efforts to take away freedoms.
“There are still many other issues impacting the people in our district and commonwealth, like inflation and price gouging, lack of access to mental health services, and lack of fair funding for public education, but securing reproductive rights — and the rights of privacy and choice for everyone — has certainly become a priority,” Takac wrote in an email.
To better understand the issue, Takac said he and his campaign team have had “frank conversations” and have looked at polls, talked with people in the district and researched medical care. He said there are many factors that lead getting an abortion and those decisions shouldn’t involve the government. The government’s duty is to ensure everyone has access to affordable health care, he said.
Conklin said the issue has “motivated people who believe in personal freedom” and regardless of their opinion on abortion, he said people always come back to “personal freedom should be protected.”
His opponent, Yetsko, wondered if Independent and swing voters will choose “kitchen table” issues as their main focus, rather than abortion.
“Independents are about 18% of the 77th district so they can make a big difference. The addition of rural areas to the map of the 77th district will also be a factor. These areas will be less energized by the abortion issue and more affected by high fuel costs, getting to and from work, increased cost of food, increased cost to heat their homes, and overall economic uncertainty,” Yetsko wrote.
Kerry Benninghoff, Republican incumbent seeking reelection to House District 171 and Justin Behrens, Republican candidate for House District 82, did not respond to a request for comment.
Senate Bill 106
Senate Bill 106, which was introduced by Republican state Sen. David Argall, proposes several amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution. For one, the bill includes language that would amend the constitution to state that there is no constitutional right to abortion or public funding for abortions.
The Legislature approved the amendment package in July. If it passes again during the next legislative session, voters could see the proposed amendments on the ballot in May 2023, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
With Senate Bill 106 in mind, Takac and other Democrat candidates said it’s vital for Pennsylvania to flip a chamber from Republican to Democrat.
“Because these were proposed as Constitutional Amendments, even if Josh Shapiro (the pro-choice gubernatorial candidate) is elected, he would not be able to veto them. That means we need to flip a legislative chamber — and the House is most likely — so that Senate Bill 106 doesn’t pass both chambers again and make it onto the ballot in May,” Takac wrote in an email.
On Monday, three Penn State students who are also involved with Takac’s campaign spoke against the bill. Taylor Root, president of Students for Takac, said that though it’s not on the ballot yet, people need to be aware of the harm that the bill would bring.
“The Pennsylvania Constitution is meant to protect the rights of all citizens, not explicitly remove them from over half of the population,” Root said. “Those who we put in office should be expanding a woman’s right to birth control, not restricting it altogether. It is the individual’s right to choose.”
Conklin said he is co-sponsoring House Bill 2817, a constitution amendment that would “enshrine Pennsylvanians’ right to privacy and bodily autonomy.”
“I think we all understand the issue in a different light after the Supreme Court decision. It is no longer abstract. The discussions are no longer relevant and the time to protect personal freedom is now,” Conklin said.
