Kamala Harris calls for ending filibuster to codify national abortion rights

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Vice President Kamala Harris is advocating for the elimination of the U.S. Senate filibuster to codify abortion rights. This represents the most significant step Harris has taken in her pledge to restore federal abortion rights if elected in November.

“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe,” Harris said in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio on Tuesday, Sept. 24. “To actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom, and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.”

Currently, the filibuster requires 60 votes to advance most legislation. Harris believes this should be removed so that a simple majority of 51 votes could pass abortion legislation. A simple majority vote is all it takes to eliminate the filibuster.

Some Senate Democrats, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, expressed support for bypassing the filibuster to codify abortion rights. With the election approaching, the majority winner may determine the fate of the filibuster.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer believes this issue could incentivize voters to choose Democratic candidates.

“It’s pretty certain that voting rights — if we get our 50 and Kamala’s president, we have the votes to do that,” Schumer said. “We need to make sure people know that when they vote for a Republican candidate, they’re voting for basically a national abortion ban. And when we do it, it has real resonance.”

Recent Democratic efforts to end the filibuster have been hindered by moderate Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin and Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, both of whom are retiring from the Senate at the end of the year.

Former President Donald Trump has stated he wants to keep decisions about abortion at the state level, supporting the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Harris has vowed to restore federal abortion rights if elected, making reproductive rights central to her campaign.

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