Whether North Carolina moves to criminalize or ban abortion rather than remove the many restrictions we have to expand access in the coming years remains to be seen. 

Currently, the political makeup of North Carolina state government doesn't allow much room to codify the protections in Roe or to outright ban abortion. Though anti-abortion lawmakers control both houses of the state legislature, the current governor (Governor Roy Cooper) can—and has—used his veto power to block abortion bans and restrictions since his election in 2016.    

Following the Dobbs decision, Pro-Choice North Carolina turned its focus on the 2022 election, working to stave off an anti-abortion supermajority, educating North Carolina voters about what's at stake for abortion access, and working with our allies to prepare them to run proactive policies and defend against harmful policies. In the coming months, we will continue to collaborate with our partners on voter engagement and participation efforts, work to demystify abortion and chip away at abortion stigma, and expose anti-abortionist tactics and disinformation and their alliances with racist, misogynistic, and undemocratic forces. We will empower young people and people in communities around the state to organize for what they need to access the full range of reproductive healthcare options, including abortion. We will communicate with the public, federal, state, and local elected officials, the media, and partners to ensure they understand what accessing abortion is really like in North Carolina and how people can get the care they need. 

We will continue to support independent abortion clinics to help them navigate escalating harassment, including advocating with city and county officials for better protections, and helping them to prepare for the expected influx of patients seeking abortion care in our state.