North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) called out Republicans in the state for ignoring “the will of the people” after a GOP supermajority overrode his veto of a 12-week abortion ban on Tuesday. (Check out his remarks in the clip below.)
In an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart, Cooper ripped GOP lawmakers for the ban in a state that’s seen the highest percentage increase in abortions since the fall of Roe v. Wade, an increase attributed to those traveling from out of state due to other bans in the South and Midwest.
“It’s amazing how they’ve ignored the will of the people here,” said Cooper.
“Most North Carolinians do not want right-wing politicians in the exam room with women and their doctors,” he added. “This legislation slaps women in the face. It’s an insult. The people of North Carolina are mad.”
State Rep. Tricia Cotham switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP in April and was crucial to Republicans gaining a veto-proof supermajority to override the governor’s veto. Cotham, once an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, has avoided questions from the media as to how she reconciles the vote with her past stances.
The ban is due to go into effect on July 1.
Cooper, who referred to Republicans overriding the veto as “an assault on women’s reproductive freedom,” criticized lawmakers for pushing through the ban quickly. “It took them 42 hours to turn back the clock 50 years,” he said, “and they did it in the dark of night because they didn’t want anybody to know what was in this legislation because they know the people don’t support it.”
The override of the bill in North Carolina came as Republicans advanced restrictive bans in several other states, including Nebraska, where lawmakers tucked a 12-week ban into a bill that restricted gender-affirming care for those under age 19.
The South Carolina House passed a six-week abortion ban on Wednesday, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a six-week ban into law last month.
Cooper warned that women will die due to the bans across the country and predicted that abortion will be a “front and center” issue for voters in the 2024 elections.
“People are ready for the elections coming up next year. Every single House and Senate seat is up for grabs right now, and we will never, ever give up in our battle to protect women’s health,” Cooper said of his state.