Abortion dominates Democratic campaign, with no shortage of candid confessions at Chicago convention

Kate Cox has traveled thousands of miles to attend the Democratic convention in Chicago. She's devoting every free moment to campaigning for Kamala Harris. “I'm a pregnant mom of two, I work full time, and I'm doing everything I can to support Vice President Harris because this is a really important election and an important time,” the 32-year-old says.

Kate Cox lives in Texas. A year and a half ago, she became pregnant with her long-awaited third child. During the pregnancy, she learned that the child would not survive due to a birth defect.

– With each ultrasound, the news became more and more devastating. At 18 weeks, we received a full diagnosis of trisomy 18 – the woman confesses. – When such a child is born, there is palliative care. The possibility of a peaceful death. That is why it was really standard to offer these patients an abortion, because pregnancy carries risks – explains Dr. Damla Karsan, gynecologist and Kate Cox's doctor.

READ ALSO: Large increase in infant deaths after tightening of abortion law. “Predictable consequences”

The standards are different now. Kate Cox, under Texas law, first got permission from her doctor and the court to have an abortion because of her high-risk pregnancy. That decision was reversed shortly thereafter. “We got that order from the judge and we were thrilled. We were in the process of putting everything in place so Kate could get the care she needed. And then the attorney general started directly threatening the doctor and filed an appeal,” says Molly Duane, Kate Cox's attorney.

The family had to seek help outside their place of residence. The procedure was performed in New Mexico. – As parents, we made the best decision for our family, for my health and for another pregnancy. We did not want to watch our child suffer – confesses the 32-year-old.

Now the couple is expecting a son, and the pregnancy is going well. – I'm five months pregnant. We have a baby boy on the way. We're excited and can't wait to have him home – says Kate Cox.

Other women, other families, are speaking about their personal experiences at the Democratic convention. “Growing up, I was the typical American girl: captain of the soccer team, captain of the cheerleaders, prom queen, and survivor. After years of sexual abuse, I was raped by my stepfather. When I was 12, I took my first pregnancy test. It came back positive. It was the first time I was told, 'You have a choice.' I can't imagine not having one, and today that's the reality for so many women and girls across the country,” Hadley Duvall said at the convention.

That reality changed during Donald Trump’s term, when he nominated three conservative justices to the Supreme Court. Their votes decided that abortion would not be recognized as a constitutional right, but a right that individual states could regulate.

Now, two years later, nearly a third of reproductive-age women in America live in states that make abortion almost impossible. Fourteen states allow only a few exceptions. Louisiana has none.

– We were told with 100 percent certainty that we would lose our daughter, Willow, and we were sent home. We waited for three days until Amanda was well enough to undergo a basic abortion procedure. Amanda started running a fever. I don't even remember what I put in the bag, I was hoping to save her life. This is not just a women's fight. I am here to stand up for women, to fight for our families and – as Harris says – our future – said Josh Zurawski, a Texas resident.

SEE ALSO: Arizona court tightens abortion law, 1864 regulation back in force

Kamala Harris announces she will introduce legislation through Congress that will restore women's full reproductive rights at the federal level.

In November, several states will hold referendums along with the presidential election. Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York, South Dakota, Missouri, and Arizona will decide whether to include a right to terminate a pregnancy in their state constitutions. Nebraska, Montana, and Arkansas are still waiting for a vote.

In 2023, such a referendum was held in Ohio. 56 percent of residents voted in favor of the right to reproductive freedom.