Planned Parenthood: Obama Reelection, Minnesota Triumphs Are ‘Resounding Victory For Women, By Women’

President Obama’s reelection – and the state-level successes in Minnesota – are a historic victory for women’s health, according to the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund (PPMNSAF).

“This is a resounding victory for women – and by women. More than ever before, women’s health was a decisive issue in this election. Minnesotans voted to ensure that women will have access to affordable health care and be able to make their own medical decisions,” said Sarah Stoesz, President of the PPMNSAF.

Throughout the campaign, access to women’s health care services played a central role and presented one of the starkest contrasts between President Obama and Mitt Romney. Obama vowed to fully implement the Affordable Care Act and ensure that millions of women get preventive care at no cost, require insurance companies to cover birth control, protect funding for Planned Parenthood and federal family planning programs, and protect access to safe and legal abortion. Romney took the opposite position on all of these issues, and then tried unsuccessfully to cast himself as more of a moderate on women’s health in the final weeks of the campaign.

Nationally, preliminary data is showing candidates and advocates nationwide aired broadcast ads 46,141 times highlighting women’s health care issues – a 350% increase in spending from 2008.

 “This election sends a powerful and unmistakable message to members of Congress and the Minnesota state legislature that the American people do not want politicians to meddle in our personal medical decisions, and that politicians demean and dismiss women at their own peril, said Stoesz.”

 Preliminary data in Minnesota shows that the turnout of women voters was especially important to state races and the defeat of the state ballot initiatives. This year, PPMNSAF launched an unprecedented effort to educate and mobilize the women’s vote in the region. “We are so proud to have played a role in mobilizing women voters in the state,” Stoesz continued. “We reached an unprecedented number of voters about the importance of this election, not just for women’s health, but for the rights and well-being of all Minnesotan families.”

 Following are key facts on PPMNSAF’s campaign:

• PPMNSAF invested in more than 20 state races in order to educate women voters about their candidates’ positions on important women’s health care issues, such as their position on the Affordable Care Act which is the greatest advance for women’s health in a generation.
• Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) secured more than 10,000 pledges from Minnesotans to vote on Election Day and to vote “No” on Minnesota’s two constitutional amendments.

 “We fought hard in this campaign to protect Minnesotans’ health and rights,” said Stoesz. “Moving forward, we will focus on working with lawmakers at all levels, from all political parties, to ensure that the Affordable Care Act is implemented in Minnesota."

 Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its 74 affiliates nationwide, including PPMNS are underscoring their commitment to helping women, men, and young people lead healthy lives with a new tagline “Care. No matter what.” The refreshed logo and new tagline, which launched on Election Day, are part of Planned Parenthood’s ongoing effort to reach millions more patients with quality, affordable, confidential health care. 

 “As a trusted and essential provider of health care, PPMNS stands ready to serve the thousands of people who will soon have access to health care under the Affordable Care Act – our doors are open to everyone,” Stoesz continued. “We are here for the men, women and teens in our region to provide them with care, no matter what.”

Jen Aulwes, Director of Communications, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
651.755.9557