Vulnerable Dems Leger Fernandez, Stansbury double down on abortion support

Late Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court’s draft opinion on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case was leaked to the press, which showed the Court was poised to overturn 1973’s Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion-on-demand in the United States. Roe’s defeat would mean individual states would get the ability to ban or legalize abortion as they see fit. 

While pro-lifers cheered on the potential decision, which was later confirmed to be authentic by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Democrats doubled down on their support for radical abortion up-to-birth and infanticide policies. Those Democrats included vulnerable U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez.

The first-term congresswoman wrote on Facebook Monday, “In New Mexico, we believe that the personal decision to add to a family belongs with New Mexican familias, their faith, and their physician – and that politics and government interference have no place. Now more than ever, in the face of this anticipated and devastating draft decision, NM will stand with women and families.” 

Leger Fernandez added, “We will remain a leader in ensuring that patients have access to the full spectrum of healthcare they need and deserve, including access to abortion care.” It should be noted that ther is never a medically necessary reason for abortion, therefore there is no such thing as “abortion care.” Abortion is the selective killing of a child in the womb.

In the attempt to take out Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-NM-02) from the House of Representatives, Democrats heavily gerrymandered New Mexico’s congressional map, which plunged large swaths of Democrat voters while adding conservative areas into Leger Fernandez’s Third District. According to FiveThirtyEight, Leger Fernandez’s district was winnowed down from a D+14 seat to a D+5. Leger Fernandez faces Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson in the General Election. Martinez Johnson previously ran for the seat in 2020, so this race would be a second round for the two candidates.

With a competitive cycle ahead in November, national polls are showing Democrats are training Republicans on generic ballots by double digits. Since protecting human life in the womb is an issue that many moderate Democrats in New Mexico believe is important, Leger Fernandez’s doubling-down on her pro-abortion stance could hurt her beyond measure in the November 8 General Election. 

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), who also faces a tougher reeleciton with her district being downgraded from a D+18 to a D+11 could also face a tough race, with her radical stance on abortion.

“It’s now clearer than it’s ever been: SCOTUS is about to gut our basic rights to control our own bodies. It’s up to the Senate to end the filibuster and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, now,” the first-term Democrat congresswoman wrote on Twitter.

She added, “Care remains available—this is still a draft opinion. But we must continue the fight in the Senate and at the ballot box.”

As Democrats continue to go all-in on abortion up-to-birth policies, Republicans have a shot at picking up seats across the nation, especially with the control of Congress and the Legislatures having even more significance in the abolition of abortion across the U.S.