For Immediate Release: March 15, 2018

Contact: [email protected]

NARAL Pro-Choice Nevada Statement to Adam Laxalt & Wes Duncan: Trust Nevada Women

This week, The Nevada Independent reported that Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt signed onto an amicus brief led by Louisiana AG Jeff Landry defending a Texas abortion ban law that was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. They then reported that Laxalt neglected to consult Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval before getting our state involved in the coalition that filed the brief to defend the 2017 Texas law banning abortions later in pregnancy.

To top it all off, Wes Duncan, the right-wing candidate running to replace Laxalt as attorney general, held a fundraiser in Nevada this week with AG Landry– the man who spearheaded the amicus brief.

NARAL Pro-Choice Nevada State Director Caroline Mello Roberson issued the following statement:

“Nearly 99 percent of abortions occur before 21 weeks, but when they are needed later in pregnancy, it’s often under very complex circumstances that involve rare, severe fetal anomalies and serious risks to the woman’s health — the kind of situations where a woman and her doctor need every medical option available. Abortion bans such as the one AG Laxalt is trying to defend without the consultation of Nevada’s pro-choice Republican Governor, prevent health care providers from giving their patients the best health care possible in what can be a very difficult situation. Even worse: the ban does not include exceptions for rape or incest.

“Laxalt and his protege Wes Duncan have made their positions clear, and they contradict the 74% of Nevadans who support a woman’s right to choose.” 

“Nevadans want their elected officials to focus on creating jobs, fixing education, and strengthening access to health care. Instead, Adam Laxalt and his protege Wes Duncan are obsessed with outlawing abortion and punishing women — and their actions are wildly out of touch with the vast majority of Nevadans. Enough is enough.”

###