“His Efforts Are the Reason We’re Here” – In Houston, Texans Speak out Against Cruz’s Harmful Abortion Record

“Doctors and patients alike have been robbed of the freedom to make important, difficult, and ultimately personal decisions. Ted Cruz took that ability away from us”

HOUSTON, Texas – Today Dr. Rashmi Kudesia, a Houston OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist, along with Sen. Carol Alvarado (SD-6) and Lauren Ashley Simmons, the Democratic nominee for HD-146, called out Ted Cruz for his role in restricting Texans’ abortion access.

Speakers highlighted Cruz's efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, support for fetal “personhood,” and the Texas abortion ban Cruz called “perfectly reasonable.”

High-quality images from the event are available here.

Dr. Rashmi Kudesia, MD, a Houston-based OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist, said:

“As an OB/GYN and fertility specialist, I’m honored to have the ability to help folks here in Houston plan the exciting next steps of how and when to grow their family. The common denominator among my patients is that they’ve made a big decision. They want to take action to preserve their fertility or achieve a healthy pregnancy, and they come to me for help making it a reality.

“What’s important is that these families are making decisions on their terms. Consulting with their faith leaders, loved ones, and other physicians is important – but at the end of the day, the decision is theirs, no one else’s… But in the past few years, thanks to what Ted Cruz has pushed for, one extra question commonly comes up - something I am asked at least a few times every single week. Is it even safe to be pregnant in Texas?”

“In Texas, doctors and patients alike have been robbed of the freedom to make important, difficult, and ultimately personal decisions. Ted Cruz took that ability away from us… Cruz laid the groundwork for the disparities in care we’re all seeing. He said Roe v. Wade was one of our, quote, ‘greatest tragedies.’ That’s why he pushed so hard to overturn it.”

Lauren Ashley Simmons, the Democratic nominee for HD-146, said:

“I’m a Texan. I grew up here. I know the values we care about, how important freedom is to each and every one of us. And tragically, I know what it’s like to see a fundamental freedom ripped away – the right to control our own bodies. Ted Cruz is responsible for that. Let’s be clear: he helped elect the people who wrote and passed this abortion ban. He got the judges and justices confirmed to the courts who would finally accomplish his number one goal as a U.S. Senator – ending Roe v. Wade.

“When Roe was overturned, almost all abortion care ended in Texas immediately. What did Ted Cruz do? He celebrated – called that a “massive victory” that millions of Texas women woke up to a dangerous, at times deadly, new reality. The only victory was his. Because Cruz only cares about himself. He’s not in this for us. He’s in it for him.”

Texas Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Senator Carol Alvarado (SD-6) said:

“Texas is ground zero in an unprecedented invasion of our privacy and our bodies… Remember the mandating of a 24-hour waiting period, and intrusive sonograms? In those cases, they didn't listen to the doctors and the medical professionals who know firsthand. Now we live under SB 8, the ‘Heartbeat Act,’ which I call the Heartless Heartbeat act. Ted Cruz called it ‘perfectly reasonable.’

“Let's be crystal clear. Ted Cruz is against all abortion, no exceptions, even in the case of rape or incest. It's why he celebrated the ‘historic anniversary’ of Dobbs, which left millions of Texans without access to essential, essential health care – again, even in the case of rape or incest, and after many in the medical field opposed it. This is who he is, the Ted Cruz we've known for 12 years… This extreme ban is on him. He owns it, and he knows it – but Texans do too. That's why we're going to retire him for good.”

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