Kamala Harris Pushes To Remove Filibuster For Abortion Laws

Vice President Kamala Harris said she would support abolishing the Senate filibuster to pass legislation to restore federal abortion protections.

Harris has made similar statements in the past. But her comments on Wisconsin Public Radio on Tuesday morning mark the first time as the Democratic presidential candidate that she has supported ending the 60-vote threshold necessary to advance legislation in the Senate.

Wisconsin Public Radio host Kate Archer Kent asked Harris how she plans to get a bill to restore Roe v. Wade through Congress, given that Republicans are likely to weaponize the Senate filibuster.

“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom,” Harris said. “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.”

Harris has made repeated promises on the campaign trail that she would sign legislation passed by Congress to codify Roe v. Wade if she’s elected in November. The vice president stressed that in order to restore Roe, Democrats need to hold their majority in the Senate and win more seats in the House.

Democrats need 51 votes to end the filibuster, which is why it’s so critical that they keep their Senate majority. If they do, it appears they would have the votes, since Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said last week he would be open to carving out an exception to the filibuster to pass pro-choice legislation. Sanders would bring the vote count to 50, and Tim Walz, as vice president, would be the tie-breaker. But current Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is polling behind right now; if he loses, Democrats don’t retain their majority and miss out on their chance to end the filibuster to pass abortion rights legislation.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) supported Harris’ comments to end the filibuster for federal abortion protections, retweeting the vice president’s statement on Tuesday and writing: “Yes.”

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 after former President Donald Trump nominated three conservative justices to the high court, creating a conservative majority.

Harris has been a full-throated advocate for abortion rights since she replaced President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket this summer. She has spoken out about the consequences of forcing pregnant people to travel for abortion care, detailing the financial and emotional barriers many have to overcome to access care. Earlier this year, Harris paid an official visit to an abortion clinic — widely believed to be the first such visit by a president or vice president.