The debate surrounding abortion and women’s reproductive rights has gripped the nation, with several state legislatures moving to ban abortions in a gradual reversal of Roe v. Wade. Rep. John Delaney (D-Maryland), a 2020 Democratic presidential contender, has clearly stated where he stands on the issue.

“I’m pro-choice and I support a woman’s right to make her own reproductive decisions, and I’m a strong supporter of Roe v. Wade as the law of the land,” Delaney told uPolitics exclusively.

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Georgia, Alabama and Missouri are among the many states that have passed or introduced legislation in recent weeks to ban abortion. Some have ruled that doctors who perform the procedure could be sentenced to up to 99 years in prison, a punishment that exceeds that given to many murderers and rapists. Many of these new laws, like Georgia’s new “heartbeat bill” banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, make not explicit exceptions for rape, incest, miscarriage or for when the mother’ life is at risk.

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Many liberal Hollywood celebrities have boycotted working in states like Georgia as a result of these bills, some of which recognize fetuses as people for many purposes like taxes.

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Stay tuned for more videos from uPolitics’ series of interviews with 2020 presidential candidates.

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