California doubles down on abortion access: "we'll fight for what’s right"

As Donald Trump readies for his second term, California is preparing to make one thing clear: it’s not backing down on abortion rights. With a new slate of bills coming soon, the Golden State is positioning itself as a bulwark against conservative forces looking to curtail reproductive freedoms. The State That Won’t Quit on Reproductive Rights Amid a national push to restrict abortion, California is gearing up for a legislative fight, with Assembly member Mia Bonta leading the charge. Her upcoming bills aim to safeguard reproductive health in the state, including expanding access to birth control, ensuring emergency abortion care , and improving maternal health outcomes. "California will continue to be a sanctuary for women’s autonomy and healthcare," says Bonta, emphasizing that the state is a safe haven as other parts of the country retreat on reproductive rights. A Safety Net When the Federal Government Won't Catch You Bonta’s first bill targets a looming crisis: ensuring that women in California can access emergency reproductive care without bureaucratic roadblocks. As other states, like Idaho, push laws limiting abortion to life-threatening cases, Bonta wants to ensure that California’s hospitals remain safe spaces for those seeking emergency abortions. “No woman should have to choose between her health and her legal rights,” she asserts. Her second bill takes on birth control accessibility, aiming to make over-the-counter contraception more widely available to low-income women covered by Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. And her third bill seeks to address the growing shortage of labor and delivery wards, ensuring that birthing centers—critical for healthy outcomes—remain accessible and financially viable in underserved areas. In short, Bonta is covering all the bases: from emergency care to birth control to maternity services. Trump's Playbook: The Threat of Federal Interference While Trump has said abortion laws should be left to the states, his administration could still find ways to interfere. The right-wing "Project 2025" calls for rolling back FDA approval of abortion pills, ramping up surveillance of pregnancy loss, and slashing federal funding for family planning programs. The stakes are high, and Bonta is ready to push back. Her effort is deeply personal: In 2022, she publicly shared her own abortion story, explaining that it helped her break free from a cycle of poverty. “I want to fight for women’s access to the same care that I had,” she says, pointing out that the need for safe, accessible abortion is not just a California issue—it’s a human issue. Fighting for Justice, No Matter What As California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta is preparing his office to challenge any federal efforts that could restrict abortion rights. Together, the Bontas are a formidable team, standing firm in their commitment to protect civil rights in the state. While the conservative-leaning courts may make the legal fight more difficult, Mia Bonta insists: "We have to fight for what’s right. And we’ll keep fighting until we win." Despite the looming threat of a "dystopian" future, she’s optimistic that California’s progressive leadership will hold strong. "We may be scared, but we’re also ready to fight. And we’re not backing down."