Planned Parenthood endorses Gideon, denounces Collins for ‘abandoning’ Maine women

A day before the 47th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, Planned Parenthood and its Maine affiliate announced its endorsement of state Rep. Sara Gideon (D-Freeport), one of four Democrats looking to unseat Senator Susan Collins this November.

Leaders at Planned Parenthood cited Gideon’s work as Maine House Speaker last year to pass a slew of bills increasing reproductive health care access in Maine and her support for Medicaid expansion as reasons for the endorsement.

“In 2020, there are two distinct stories to tell about Maine and the rights and freedoms voters want protected. One is the leadership of Sara Gideon who fought to make sure that people can make personal medical decisions without politicians, insurance companies, and special interests’ interference,” said Nicole Clegg, senior vice president of the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, in a press release.

In contrast, Clegg spoke to Collins’ infamous vote to appoint Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018 as well as her general “complacency” in allowing hundreds of other federal courts to be packed with vehemently conservative judges.

“The other story is the instrumental role Susan Collins played in securing the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and her complacency as the courts are packed with judges more interested in a political agenda than the protection of our basic rights,” Clegg said.

“It’s the impact of her actions, which have been felt across the country as state after state passed abortion bans, and most profoundly, it’s her silence in this moment,” she continued. “Susan Collins is no longer the champion Maine people can count on to safeguard our rights and freedoms.”

Further, while the Planned Parenthood of Northern New England won major victories on the state level — passing bills that mandate public and private health insurers cover abortions and that allow nurse practitioners and other physician assistants to perform abortions — it lost millions in federal funding after the Trump administration’s 2019 domestic ‘gag rule’ went into effect.

Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president and CEO of the national Planned Parenthood Action Fund, also offered a scathing critique of Collins, who she described as a politician who has left Maine women behind. Although Collins was endorsed by Planned Parenthood in 2002 and received an award from the organization in 2017, Johnson pointed to Collins’ support of Kavanaugh as the breaking point in their organization’s support of Collins.

“We were once encouraged by Senator Collins’ support of reproductive rights, yet she has abandoned not only the people of Maine, but women across the country,” said McGill Johnson. “From her decisive vote to confirm Kavanaugh to her refusal to stop Republican attacks on our health and rights, it’s clear that she has turned her back on those she should be championing.”

At the 4th Annual Women’s March in Portland this Saturday, which was primarily organized by Planned Parenthood, many of the women in attendance echoed Johnson’s assessment, saying that Collins has voted against the “interests of the women and people of Maine” and should be replaced in November.