RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said Wednesday that if he wins re-election he would seek to codify in law next legislative session an order he signed that protects in-state abortion providers and out-of-state patients.
The announcement came in the side lounge of a Reno coffee and wine shop, where he hosted a panel of obstetrician-gynecologists, medical students and abortion advocates to discuss their plans to protect abortion access, as the issue has central to his re-election campaign.
In the days following the Supreme Court's decision in June to overturn Roe v. Wade and send the issue back to the states, Sisolak signed the executive order saying that Nevada will not assist other states that try to prosecute residents who travel to Nevada for abortions. It also ensures medical boards and commissions that oversee medical licenses do not discipline or disqualify doctors who provide abortions.
For that order to be turned into law, a lawmaker would have to sponsor the bill and go through the legislative process. Due to Nevada's biennial legislative structure, it can only be passed in the 2023 or 2025 sessions.
Even in Nevada, where abortion within 24 weeks has been codified into law since 1990, Sisolak has become one of a growing number of Democrats who made the overturning of Roe v. Wade a major talking point. On Wednesday, he said that his role is to ``continue the access that exists'' and expand funding resources for providers.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Joe Lombardo indicated that he may overturn Sisolak's executive order but has declined to take a hard position.
Sisolak has repeatedly said that Lombardo will work to implement a 13-week abortion ban through a referendum if elected. Asked about if he would support restricting abortion access through a referendum vote, Lombardo said if voters or the state legislature bring forward a ballot measure, he would ``support giving them the ultimate decision.''
He did not indicate whether he would actively promote a referendum vote.
``I support giving voters the ultimate decision, just as it is codified in Nevada law,'' he said.
Republican candidates are hoping a red wave this year brings them back into power in Nevada, where Democrats have enjoyed trifecta control of the governor's mansion and both chambers of the Legislature since 2018.
This year, its top-of-ticket GOP candidates have stressed the right to abortion is codified into state law and it would take a vote of the people in a referendum to restrict abortion here, not a legislative battle like in some other states.
``I'm Catholic and pro-life, but in Nevada, the right to an abortion is codified in law and only Nevada voters can change that,'' Lombardo said.