After a draft SCOTUS decision was released Monday night outlining a plan to strike down Roe v. Wade, President Biden, Governor Cooper and North Carolina Democrats are doubling down on their commitment to protect the right to safe, legal abortion in North Carolina. 

While President Biden and Democrats are committed to fighting to make sure everyone has the power to control their own bodies, lives, and futures, the reported Supreme Court draft opinion is the result of Republicans’ unrelenting radical war on health care and the right to choose.

See below for coverage of North Carolina Democrats’ commitment to protect the right to choose: 

Axios Raleigh: Gov. Roy Cooper’s lonely fight to defend abortion rights in N.C.

• During his two terms in office, Cooper has used his veto power on multiple abortion bills passed by Republicans.

• “We know that Democratic governors are the strongest and last line of defense to protect abortion rights,” Cooper said in an interview with Axios Tuesday. “We have always been in that position, but now it’s even more intense.”

Winston-Salem Journal: “The right to choose should be protected.’ Abortion rights supporters demonstrate in Winston-Salem after leaked draft court opinion.

• At a Raleigh news conference, Bobbie Richardson, the chairwoman of the N.C. Democratic Party, said that voters must elect Democrats to protect women’s abortion rights.

• “To be clear, this is a draft opinion,” Richardson said. “It is not the final word yet. Abortion is still safe and legal in North Carolina.”

• However, Richardson said, if the Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade, that decision would be “devastating for the millions of people across North Carolina, whose abortion access and control over their bodies now hang in the balance.”

• The draft opinion reflects anti-abortion group’s plant to ban abortions across the United States, Richardson said.

• “Make no mistake, North Carolina Democrats will continue to fight like hell to protect the rights to access safe, legal abortion,” Richardson said.

WRAL: Abortion takes on heightened political importance as NC primary nears

• North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Bobbie Richardson said in a statement that the draft opinion could be “devastating for the millions” of residents and urged voters to elect Democrats.

• “There is only one way to protect our reproductive freedom and ensure everyone has the right to make their own health care decisions– elect Democrats up and down the ballot,” Richardson said. 

Charlotte Observer: ‘On the ballot like never before’: Supreme Court abortion ruling could alter NC politics

• Democrats already are looking to Raleigh, where they hold enough seats to uphold a veto by Gov. Roy Cooper if the General Assembly passes bills to limit or eliminate access to abortion. But the margins are slim, said Bobbie Richardson, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

• A veto override in North Carolina requires the votes of three-fifths of the members in each chamber. In the state House, it takes 72 of the 120 members; in the state Senate, it requires 30 of the 50 members. Republicans currently hold 69 seats in the House and 28 seats in the Senate.

• “This is what happens when we do not take responsibility or believe that our votes count, because every election has consequences,” Richardson said. “The consequence of the Trump election is that he was able to appoint three judges to the Supreme Court. Had that election turned out differently, this decision might not be hanging over our heads.”

CBS17: What overturning Roe v. Wade would mean for NC

• During a press conference, state Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham) said if the GOP wins back the supermajority she expects the legislature to pass bills similar to other Republican-led states.

• “If we do not elect pro-choice Democrats in November, North Carolina will be the next Texas, passing extreme legislation,” she said.

Spectrum News: Potential Roe v. Wade ruling puts sharp focus on N.C. midterm elections

• “To be clear, if we do not elect pro-choice Democrats in November, North Carolina will be the next Texas, passing extreme legislation that will roll back reproductive rights, justice and abortion access,” Murdock said.

• “The battle for abortion rights will end with the states. We now know that we cannot depend on the Supreme Court to have our backs, it’s up to us,” she said.

WGHP: Possible veto by Gov. Cooper is likely NC’s defense against abortion changes

• Two others from Guilford County, Sen. Michael Garrett (D-Greensboro) and House District 61 Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Greensboro), both generally agreed with Hardister and cited a couple of key factors about whether the GOP-dominated legislature could get something introduced in a short session during an election year, which brings in the second issue.

• “I am confident, we would see a move by Senate Republicans to ban abortion if they gain seats in the next election and have the ability to override Governor [Roy] Cooper’s veto.”

• Harrison said there were draft bills ready to be filed. “One election that heavily favors Republicans would put North Carolina perilously close to banning abortion by taking away the governor’s veto power with a Republican supermajority,” said Harrison, who has represented her district since 2004 and is one of a handful of legislators – including Berger – who is likely to be re-elected because there is no opposition other than potential write-in candidates.

ABC11: Roe v. Wade: Political Impact

“Make no mistake: North Carolina Democrats will continue to fight like hell to protect the right to access safe, legal abortion.”