National reproductive rights advocacy organization endorses Lansing Democrats

The leader of Reproductive Freedom for All called Tom Barrett (R-MI) a “nightmare … for Michigan” during a canvassing event on Tuesday as part of the group’s “My Body, My Ballot” campaign.

The organization, formerly the National Association for Repeal of Abortion Laws, is backing both William Lawrence, who is the Democratic candidate running against Barrett for Michigan’s 7th Congressional seat, and Rashida Harrison, who is aiming to be Michigan’s next 28th District state senator. 

Mini Timmaraju, president and CEO of the group, said Barrett was “hiding his record” by removing a portion of his website detailing his anti-abortion stance. “We know that when abortion is on the ballot, abortion wins every single time,” she said, “and Tom Barrett knows it too.”

Lawrence called Barrett “an extremist” on abortion. Barrett voted for a bill that resulted in federal funding cuts to healthcare providers that also offer abortion care. Those provisions primarily affected Planned Parenthood. 

In July, three Planned Parenthood locations in Michigan, including the one in Lansing, closed as a result of the funding cuts. Two months earlier, Planned Parenthood of Michigan requested Gov. Gretchen Whitmer provide $5 million to prevent the closures. Whitmer deferred to state lawmakers. 

Lawrence blamed Barrett for the dispute. “People here lacked an advocate … [Barrett] voted for the bill that resulted in the cuts that caused Planned Parenthood to close,” he said to reporters.

The right to an abortion is codified into Michigan’s law. Harrison said rights don’t mean much when access is restricted. “It’s just theoretical … this is the work that I’m coming to do, to increase that access.”

Harrison said it extends beyond access to abortion care, like being able to give birth in a safe space and to “make a living and actually take care of your children.”

Reproductive Freedom for All’s Timmaraju said Barrett’s votes to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have been costing constituents in more ways than cuts to taxes and federal spending. “Reproductive freedom is an economic issue,” she said. “To have a family, to have children, it’s the most fundamental, important economic decision a family will make.”

When asked about working across the aisle with other lawmakers in D.C., Lawrence said he is “not optimistic about a bipartisan miracle” and wants to focus on collaborating from the “bottom up here in the district.”

He plans to open “top-notch” service offices in the district to help constituents navigate public programs. 

Both Lawrence and Barrett campaigns collaborate with the respective student political party groups at Michigan State University for canvassing and voter registration events. Harrison, an assistant professor at MSU, said former students encouraged her to run for the state senate seat. 

Data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University found that turnout of young voters aged 18-29 leaped to 58% in 2024, four points higher than the previous presidential election cycle. Midterm elections typically have lower voter participation rates, and with Michigan as a key state in a handful of Congressional races, candidates are trying to connect with younger voters. 

Lawrence said he “feels amazing” about his campaign’s outreach, citing over a thousand “actual volunteers” working with his team. He called Michigan’s 7th Congressional district the top district where young voters have a say. “That means the young voters have the greatest potential of any district to actually flip this district and determine control of the United States House.”