Nine North Dakota Republicans Oppose Equal Protection

State Representative Lori VanWinkle testifies in favor of HB 1373 before the Human Services Committee

BISMARCK, ND—Following last week’s hearing on HB 1373, the North Dakota Prenatal Equal Protection Act, nine Republicans on the Human Services Committee sided with Planned Parenthood and the Democrats to oppose equal protection for preborn children. 

The nine Republicans who voted to keep abortion legal in North Dakota were Matt Ruby, Kathy Frelich, Clayton Fegley, Karen Rohr, Karen Anderson, Mike Beltz, Macy Bolinske, Dawson Holle, and Jared Hendrix. These Republicans joined Democrats Jayme Davis and Gretchen Dobervich. 

Conservative Dwight Kiefert voted in favor of the bill and Nico Rios, a co-author on HB 1373, was not present for the vote, but would have voted in favor. 

While this vote resulted in a Do Not Pass recommendation from the committee, the bill will receive a vote by the full North Dakota House of Representatives likely later this week. 

Opposition from the North Dakota Catholic Conference and the North Dakota Family Alliance tipped the scales against HB 1373 in committee. The Pro-Life establishment continues to be the biggest obstacle to the abolition of abortion in Republican-controlled states across the nation.