This morning, the DNC hosted a press call with Southern state Democratic Party Chairs Nikki Fried (FL), Nikema Williams (GA), Susan Swecker (VA), and Anderson Clayton (NC) ahead of the extreme abortion ban Donald Trump made possible taking effect in Florida tomorrow. Because of Donald Trump, abortion is banned across every state in the South barring Virginia, where Democrats successfully defeated Republicans’ attempts. On the call, the Democratic state party chairs had a simple message: Trump is responsible for extreme abortion bans in Florida and across the country – and he won’t stop until abortion is banned nationwide. 

Find highlights from the press call below:

“All of this cruelty and chaos can be traced back to Donald Trump – who, and I quote, ‘proudly’ paved the way for women’s reproductive freedoms to be ripped away with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Now, he says, state bans are – and I quote again from Trump – ‘working the way they are supposed to,’” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. “With Florida’s ban going into effect tomorrow, access to reproductive health care is now effectively eliminated across the South.” [WATCH HERE]

“We cannot let Donald Trump implement a national abortion ban. He is responsible for the pain and suffering that women in the South have endured. He even brags about it. We know in Virginia that voters go to the polls with abortion at the top of their minds,” said Virginia Democratic Party Chair Susan Swecker. “We know in Virginia that our Democrats have protected and fought for not only Virginians, but women across the South. And we know in Virginia that our reproductive rights cannot be taken for granted. Because we also know that if Donald Trump gets back into the White House, he will try to take his extreme abortion ban nationwide and rip reproductive rights away from Virginians, as well.” [WATCH HERE]

“The reality we’re living with in the South is a stark reminder of why we need President Biden and Vice President Harris in the White House. We know they’ll stand with the vast majority of Americans who support the right to choose, and that if given a Democratic Congress, we will restore the protections of Roe in federal law once and for all,” said Georgia Democratic Party Chair Nikema Williams. “Between now and November, I’ll be reminding voters every single day that there is only one choice at the ballot box to protect reproductive freedoms – and that’s reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris.” [WATCH HERE]

“This election cycle – everything is on the line,” said North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton. “Because Trump overturned Roe v. Wade, women are struggling to access the basic care they need – especially women living in rural communities, where Trump’s overturn of Roe has supercharged a health care workforce shortage and created a medical crisis.” [WATCH HERE]