Gov. Newsom trolls red state governors with abortion rights billboards in attempt to direct non-California residents to the state's abortion services
Taiyler Simone Mitchell
- Gov. Gavin Newsom placed pro-abortion billboards in seven red states.
- Newsom urged residents of the states to seek care through a California website.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's pro-abortion campaign has transcended beyond California borders as he placed billboards in seven states with restrictive abortion bans to taunt governors and inform residents about a new informational abortion website.
"We want women to know that we have their backs," Newsom told The Washington Post, which first reported on the efforts. "We care, they matter, and we're not going to turn our backs on them because they're from another state."
The billboards, his latest out-of-state advertisement efforts, were rented using his reelection campaign money, per The Post.
The advertisements, which tout California's recently-launched informational website, can be seen in Texas, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Oklahoma.
"I'm doing this because I'm privileged to be able to do it," Newsom told The Washington Post. "I'm doing this because I care. I'm doing it because the people that support my candidacy support this. And when many heard about this, they wanted to support additional efforts like it, to be fully transparent with you."
Newsom posted images of the billboards in a Twitter thread with short messages to the governors of the seven states.
Take a look at the billboards below:
Texas
"@GregAbbott_TX this will be launching in your state today," Newsom tweeted at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday.
Texas' six-week abortion ban rewards private citizens with up to $10,000 for suing abortion providers or those who help others obtain the procedure.
Indiana
"@GovHolcomb the people of Indiana will be seeing these as they drive to work today," Newsom tweeted at Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb Thursday.
Indiana's ban — which was the first to be passed after Roe was revered and goes into effect Thursday — prevents abortions 10 weeks after fertilization except in cases of rape, incest, if the pregnancy threatens the life of the pregnant individual, or if the fetus has a "lethal fetal anomaly." Abortions in the state, since the year 2010, used to be allowed up until 20 weeks post-fertilization.
Mississippi and Oklahoma
"@tatereeves the people of Mississippi deserve to know they have access to the care you are refusing to provide. This will be launching in your state today," Newsom tweeted at Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves.
Mississippi, the state whose case reversed Roe v. Wade, bans abortions after 15 weeks and makes exceptions if the life of the mother is threatened and if rape was reported to the police.
"@GovStitt this will be going up in your state," Newsom tweeted at Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Oklahoma has five contradictory abortion bans — but nearly all abortions are illegal.
Ohio
"@GovMikeDeWine Ohio will be seeing these billboards starting today," Newsom tweeted to Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio.
Ohio bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. In Ohio, a 10-year-old rape victim was forced to seek the procedure out of state. The case received national media attention and commentary from politicians.
South Carolina
"@henrymcmaster the people of South Carolina will be seeing these today," Newsom told Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina Thursday.
South Carolina's "heartbeat bill" bans abortions following the detection of a fetal heartbeat. While the law includes exceptions for rape, incest, fetal anomalies, and when the pregnant individual's life is threatened, it also requires providers to perform an ultrasound, let the patient listen to the fetus's heartbeat, and inform the patient of the fetus's development.
South Dakota
"@govkristinoem this will be launching in your state today," Newsom tweeted to Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota.
South Dakota makes all cases of abortion illegal except if the patient's life is at risk.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement