Gemunu Amarasinghe, Associated Press

The response has been quick and furious to Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, essentially ending the constitutional right to an abortion and leaving it to lawmakers in individual states to decide the matter.

Utah lawmakers passed what’s known as a “trigger law” in 2020 that outlines in which circumstances abortions would be allowed in the state, should Roe’s legal precedent be reversed.

Many in Republican Utah lauded the ruling while also focusing on the import of aiding women and children after babies are born. Here are a cross-section of views from Utah politicos, officials, candidates, activists and others:

3rd District U.S. Rep. John Curtis, a Republican: He welcomed the ruling, calling it “cause for celebration.” But given the divisive nature of the abortion issue, he also called for cool heads to prevail with discussion likely to continue. “As this difficult debate continues, I implore all Americans at all levels of government to use this opportunity to learn from one another, treat each other with compassion and find ways to work together to solve our differences rather than push one another away,” he said.

3rd District U.S. House challenger Chris Herrod, a Republican: Herrod wrote in a statement that he was “deeply grateful” for the Supreme Court’s decision. “I am equally as grateful for Utah’s trigger law which will ban most abortions on the state level. I have always been in full support of this law and today we see it come to fruition. Today is a good day.”

Rick Bowmer, Associated Press

4th District U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens, a Republican: He wrote on Twitter, “Today’s reversal of Roe v. Wade is 50 years overdue. The power once again resides in the states and belongs to the people. This is a win for life.”

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican: “The national nightmare of Roe has ended. … I thank God that the people of Utah and the United States are now free to enact protections for life and human dignity.”

U.S. Senate challenger Becky Edwards, a Republican: Edwards, in her public statement, pointed out the responsibility place upon the states with the ruling. “States need to act quickly and proactively to address the added complexity this decision creates, especially in terms of maternal and child healthcare, education, and economic disparity. We must prove our devotion to the sanctity of life by moving forward with compassion and care for those that are most vulnerable, with particular regard for mothers and children.”

U.S. Senate challenger Ally Isom, a Republican: “As the mother of four and grandma to five, I am pro-life. I am also pro-consent, pro-family planning, responsibility and pro-compassion.” She also called the ruling “complex” for women, while including that there should be “more” done to support women and children while “ensuring fathers are also involved and responsible for children.”

Utah Attorney General’s Office: “Utah’s trigger law prohibits abortion but provides exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother and other serious medical complications. The law will also permit abortion if the fetus has a lethal defect or a ‘severe brain abnormality,’ not including (Down) syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other conditions that do not result in a vegetative state.”

Utah House Democratic Caucus: “The ‘trigger law’ is flawed in many ways. Notably, it harms victims of sexual assault as we know most rapes are not reported to police and fewer than 1% of reported sexual assaults are prosecuted.”

Chase Thomas, executive director of Alliance for a Better Utah: “It is alarming that these personal choices (related to abortion) have been stripped from individuals and are now placed in the hands of our state’s GOP supermajority, which has not only been hostile toward abortion access but also indifferent toward the needs and rights of women in general. … Let’s be clear. Abortion has always existed and will continue to exist, despite its legal status nationally or here in Utah.”

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, a Republican: “Today is a monumental victory for human life. Protecting those who cannot defend themselves is an obligation and duty we must all take upon ourselves.” He went on, saying his “commitment to life” extends beyond birth. “It is imperative that we enhance resources, including eliminating barriers surrounding adoption and financial and material support to help mothers and children,” he said.

Diane Lewis, chairperson of the Utah Democratic Party: “Most Utahns do not want to see this restrictive ban go into effect in our state. We call on GOP leadership to convene a special session of the legislature to repeal their extremist ban and listen to the voices of a majority of Utahns who don’t want to see the government take away freedom of choice from the women of our state.”

Equality Utah: The LGBTQ+ advocacy group lamented the decision, also calling Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion, signed only by him, an “ominous threat.” His opinion, the group said, calls into question “legal precedent protecting the basic and fundamental rights to contraception, parental rights, sexual intimacy and marriage equality.”

Newsletter