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PHOENIX – Today, on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, Gov. Katie Hobbs hosted a reproductive rights roundtable in Phoenix with Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona Director Athena Salman to hear directly from Arizonans about how this has impacted their ability to provide and receive reproductive healthcare.
“Before running for office, as a social worker I worked in one of the largest domestic violence shelters here in Phoenix and saw firsthand what happens when people don’t have full control over their reproductive healthcare,” said Gov. Katie Hobbs. “On the campaign trail, I’ve heard from young women, especially after Dobbs, who were worried about starting a family here because they didn’t know if they would have access to the care that they needed for a safe pregnancy. Nobody should feel that way and that is all at risk in this election. Everybody should have the opportunity to start a family where and when they want to, and have access to care all along the way.”
Joined by doctors, advocates, students, and patients, Hobbs and Salman discussed the importance of reproductive freedom and how continuous attacks threaten Arizonans’ ability to make the personal decision of when and whether to start a family with safe and affordable care every step of the way.
Participants shared concerns about the rising cost of healthcare and growing threats to reproductive care, including abortion, contraception, and IVF. Doctors also highlighted the challenges facing hospitals and healthcare providers, particularly in rural communities, amid recent federal funding cuts.
Gov. Hobbs discussed her administration’s work to protect reproductive freedom and expand access to care, including repealing Arizona’s 1864 total abortion ban, removing barriers to over-the-counter contraception, and helping enshrine the freedom to choose in Arizona’s constitution. She also emphasized that there is still more work to do, pointing to opponents Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, who support extreme abortion bans with no exceptions for rape or incest and have backed legislation that threatens access to IVF.
The roundtable is part of Gov. Hobbs’ ongoing commitment to protecting reproductive freedom and ensuring Arizona families can access the care they need. Across Arizona, she has met with healthcare providers, advocates, and families to hear firsthand about the challenges they face and to continue fighting for affordable, accessible reproductive healthcare.
