Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on Oct. 6, 2022, in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Newsom launched a new ad in Alabama on Monday targeting Republican lawmakers in the state who are fighting against a bill that would allow women to travel out of state to seek abortions. The ad, which shows a police officer pulling over a woman and handing her a pregnancy test, states, "Trump Republicans want to criminalize young Alabama women who travel for reproductive care."
Over the weekend, Newsom also announced lawmakers would introduce legislation that would allow Arizona abortionists to travel to California to conduct abortions for Arizonans. Arizona upheld a near-total abortion ban in the Supreme Court earlier this month.
"If the spotlight isn't on this governor, he'll do everything he possibly can to ensure that it is," California Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle told Fox News Digital on Monday. "This latest media blitz is another example of ego getting in the way of good leadership and good governance."
"Critical issues that truly matter to Californians are not taken seriously – such as crime, skyrocketing electricity rates, cost of living, homelessness and education," Dahle said. "And if he does place them on his radar, Gov. Newsom’s idea of a solution is to throw money at the problem."
Homeless encampments line the streets of Oakland, California, on March 15, 2024. (DWS for Fox News Digital)
California was one of several blue states that expanded abortion access following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in summer 2022. In an interview with MSNBC host Jen Psaki on Sunday, Newsom cited efforts in Tennessee, Idaho and Oklahoma to restrict abortion as attacks "happening in real time," and stated the "response must be in real time to be more assertive and proactive."
"Not enough attention has been placed on the fact that we're not just criminalizing women's access to reproductive care in certain states, now we're criminalizing their travel," Newsom said.
Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.
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