CNN Politics: Cincinnati mayor says if Roe v. Wade is overturned, it could have a "profound impact in Ohio"

Rachel Janfaza, CNN Politics

As polls in Ohio are preparing to close in today's primary election, officials from the around the country are reacting after Politico obtained a draft opinion written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito that would strike down Roe v. Wade.

In Cincinnati, Mayor Aftab Pureval, a Democrat, reacted to the news by telling CNN that he had a message for the people.

"Abortion is still legal in this country, and in order to make sure that it continues to be safe and legal and that women have access, there's never been a more important time to show up, I mean today's literally Election Day ... to vote, and to demand that leaders hear your voice."

Pureval described the potential decision as “scary” and highlighted the impact a Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade could have on low income women and women of color. 

“In addition to all of the frustrations that so many people across the country feel, is that this decision, if it is ultimately decided that way, will have a disproportionate effect on poor women and specifically poor women of color because women who are wealthy will be able to travel to states where reproductive rights are respected, but lower income and often times women of color won’t have that opportunity,” Pureval, who is the first Asian American mayor of Cincinnati, said.

“It could have a profound impact in Ohio. A women’s right to choose has been under attack by our state legislature and our state wide leaders for decades, and if those federal protections go away, there will be nothing to stop those kind of fringe lawmakers from continuing to obliterate a women’s right to choose. So if it then becomes illegal in Ohio, it would force women to travel to a state where… they would have access, and again, that will have a disproportionate effect on lower income women,” he said.

While Pureval noted that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion rights in Ohio would ultimately be up to the state house and governor, he said that as mayor his office will “explore every opportunity and avenue to use the bully pulpit to advocate for a woman’s right to choose and reproductive rights.” 

He also said that he would, “think creatively about how we can not only advocate, but also legislate on that issue.”

Pureval’s comments come just after the Democratic Mayors Association released a statement on the reports of the draft decision.

“Democratic Mayors firmly believe that women deserve the freedom to make decisions about their bodies and that Conservatives’ political schemes should not dictate it. Abortion is a fundamental healthcare right, and we must protect access for all Americans,” Democratic Mayors Association President and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, said in a statement.  

Read the original article here.