The Reproductive Freedom Alliance is a collection of 23 Democratic governors working together to protect and expand access to abortion. The organization was founded by California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and granted states the power to regulate abortion access. Through the alliance, governors and their staff share best practices and model legislation to decrease the costs of abortion, expand Medicaid coverage for abortion, and take other actions to increase access to abortion. ^{1 2 3}

History and Activities

Reproductive Freedom Alliance was founded in February 2023 in response to the June 2022 Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade and granted states the authority to regulate abortion. The organization was founded by California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) who said that he had worked for months to create the organization as a “firewall” to protect abortion access, which he called a “moral obligation.” ^{2 3 1}

At its founding, Reproductive Freedom Alliance was comprised of 20 Democratic governors. The group was created for governors and their staffs to share best practices to defend abortion, including sharing model legislation on abortion access, working together to maximize federal financing for birth control, and protecting abortifacient manufacturers. Though the organization claims to be nonpartisan, as of June 2024, Reproductive Freedom Alliance was comprised of 23 governors, all of whom are Democrats. ^{1 2 3}

Governors in the Reproductive Freedom Alliance have worked together on pro-abortion litigation, to pass laws protecting abortion providers and aiding women seeking abortion, and to stockpile abortion pills. The group also claims credit for increasing Medicaid coverage for over-the-counter contraception and lowering the cost of abortions and contraception, especially through increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, bundling billing codes, and other policy measures.  ^{2 3}

Julia Spiegel, a lawyer in Governor Newsom’s office who helped found the organization, called Reproductive Freedom Alliance a “model of coordination across states to defend, and expand, access to reproductive health care.” Spiegel also stated that the relationship and structure of collaboration developed by Reproductive Freedom Alliance could be used to advance left-of-center policies on immigration and gun restrictions as well. ³

Staff

The executive director of Reproductive Freedom Alliance is Christina Chang. ² Chang was named the group’s first executive director in June 2024, nearly a year and a half after the organization was founded. Chang was previously chief program officer at the New York City Health Department and worked at Viral Strategies and Planned Parenthood. At the New York City Health Department, Chang oversaw the creation of a municipally funded call center that helped people access abortion, including out-of-state women attempting to travel to New York City for an abortion. ^{4 2}

Members

The elected officials involved in Reproductive Freedom Alliance include Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D), California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D), Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D), Delaware Governor John Carney (D), Guam Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero (D), Hawaii Governor Josh Green (D), Illinois Governor JD Pritzker (D), Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D), Maine Governor Janet Mills (D), Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D), Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D), Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D), New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D), North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (D), Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (D), Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D), Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee (D), Washington Governor Jay Inslee (D), and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D). The only Democratic state governor who is not a member of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance as of July 2024 is Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D). ²

1. Barrow, Bill and Geoff Mulvihill. “Democratic governors form alliance on abortion rights.” Associated Press., February 21, 2023. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-politics-texas-gavin-newsom-5db36213df3b4de5ad94ebbb53d01d30.
2. “Reproductive Freedom Alliance.” Reproductive Freedom Alliance. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://reproductivefreedomalliance.org/.
3. Savage, Charlie et. al. “The Resistance to a New Trump Administration Has Already Started.” New York times. June 16, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/16/us/politics/trump-2025-democratic-resistance.html
4. Beard, Mackenzie. “The Reproductive freedom Alliance taps its first leader.” Washington Post. June 4, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/04/reproductive-freedom-alliance-taps-its-first-leader/.