Opinion: Now is the time for Gov. Ayotte to codify reproductive rights

By KAYLA MONTGOMERY

Published: 01-12-2025 3:00 PM

Kayla Montgomery is the VP of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund.

Overwhelmingly, Granite Staters trust women to make their personal health care decisions.

At the dawn of a new year, Granite Staters are now asking: Can we count on Gov. Kelly Ayotte to protect our rights?

As a candidate, Gov. Ayotte said we could. She was on our televisions, phones and in our mailboxes pledging to block any effort to change New Hampshire’s abortion laws. Now, members of Gov. Ayotte’s own party in New Hampshire have already filed numerous anti-abortion bills, and the incoming presidential administration has vowed to defund reproductive health centers like Planned Parenthood.

We are counting on Gov. Ayotte to put her campaign words into action and prove she’s willing to put public health above politics to deliver for the people of New Hampshire.

It is not enough to hope so. As Gov. Ayotte enters office, Granite Staters must take our own oath to use our collective voice to keep the protection of our rights front and center in the political discourse. In 2025, we must be unified in our efforts to not only stop additional abortion restrictions but to safeguard Granite Staters’ right to privacy and to make their own health care decisions.

I’m not going to lie, the cards are stacked against us. While our state has a proud bipartisan history of supporting access to safe, legal abortion, we are the only New England state without explicit state or constitutional protections for abortion rights.

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Gov. Ayotte’s past record on abortion rights raises legitimate concerns: She voted for a national abortion ban and repeatedly voted to defund Planned Parenthood health centers. Still, leaders’ positions can evolve, and individuals can change their minds. Many elected leaders have changed their views on abortion. There are plenty of Republican leaders who have proudly supported reproductive rights and Planned Parenthood’s ability to provide health care, including right here in New England, like Vermont Governor Phil Scott.

Granite Staters are depending on Gov. Ayotte to keep her word and protect our rights and access to health care. A campaign promise is a promise nonetheless. Now sworn into office, she has the power to act.

First, Gov. Ayotte must block any effort to further restrict abortion access in New Hampshire. Whether proposals to further ban or restrict abortion access are stand-alone bills or tucked into the state budget, Ayotte holds the veto pen. Further, she must unequivocally and publicly oppose these efforts and make it clear that she will stand by her word.

Gov. Ayotte should work with state lawmakers to enshrine abortion rights. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade eliminated the only protections for abortion rights that Granite Staters had. By supporting a state constitutional amendment or law that proactively protects reproductive rights, Gov. Ayotte would make it clear that the Granite State respects the right of every person to make their own choices about their bodies free from government interference.

Too many people in New Hampshire, especially in rural areas, struggle to get necessary health care services, including cancer screenings, contraception and STI testing and treatment. Gov. Ayotte can ensure that every Granite Stater gets the care they need, regardless of income or zip code, by supporting funding for the reproductive health services offered by Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Lovering Health Center and Equality Health Center. These organizations serve the vast majority of New Hampshire’s family planning program patients. For too long, state contracts for family planning care have been used as political football. It’s time to put people first and fully fund comprehensive reproductive health care.

Gov. Ayotte has the opportunity to build a legacy beyond party lines that speaks to the fundamental values of freedom and autonomy for all Granite Staters. At Planned Parenthood, we stand ready to make that vision a reality.

Gov. Ayotte can improve our public health outcomes, create lasting protections for reproductive rights in New Hampshire and defend access to the full range of reproductive health care. Her campaign promise to veto any further abortion restrictions was instrumental in her victory. Now, this is her moment to lead.