The Indiana General Assembly gave final approval Friday to abortion legislation that Indianapolis Star reporter Arika Herron described as a “near-total ban on abortion.” Governor Holcomb signed the measure into law hours after final passage. The new law is effective September 15th.
There has been much speculation among the political chattering class in Indiana about what impact this abortion law will have on legislative elections in 2022. In Indiana Senate District 31, the candidates do not have much disagreement.
The current District 31 Senator, Kyle Walker, issued a statement following the Senate action explaining his “no” vote on the abortion bill that became law. Walker says this legislation “does not strike the right balance for women to make their own health decisions while also protecting the life of the unborn. Further, the time allowed for the exceptions for rape or incest victims and for fatal fetal anomalies is far less than I believe is appropriate.”
Walker went against the Republican caucus, which mostly voted in favor of the abortion bill that became law Friday night.
Democrat Jocelyn Vare is running for that same District 31 Senate seat Walker now holds. In a Facebook video message posted Saturday morning, Vare addresses “Hoosier women” in response to the enactment of the abortion measure.
“We wake up to a state that has changed dramatically from the day before,” says Vare. She goes on to say “this is an important, meaningful, change to women’s autonomy, health and even dignity.”
Vare cites the Republican super-majority and the governor as the people responsible for enacting this new abortion law.
There will be many legislative contests in the 2022 general election where abortion will be an issue. Ms. Vare was very emotional in her appeal to voters in supporting herself and other Democrats following . But Senator Walker did vote ‘no” on the abortion bill.
Jocelyn Vare is in her first term on the Fishers City Council as an a-large member. Kyle Walker was elected by a Republican caucus of precinct officials to complete this Senate term.
Indiana Senate District 31 encompasses part of Lawrence and most of Fishers.
Election day is Tuesday, November 8.