On Monday, the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) announced the committee would only endorse Democratic Attorney General candidates who publicly commit to protecting reproductive rights, including access to abortion.

This announcement is historic — DAGA is the first Democratic Party Committee to require public support for reproductive rights by a candidate as part of the endorsement criteria. The announcement comes in response to the extreme restrictions sweeping state legislatures across the country and President Trump’s efforts to roll backs decades of progress in reproductive freedom.

“The announcement from DAGA today could not come at a more important moment”

Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL in The Hill

This decision means DAGA will only provide financial support, activate digital tools, and engage strategic partners for candidates who publicly commit to protecting the fundamental right that everyone should be able to make their own decision about their health care, including abortion.

Key political leaders, including 2020 hopefuls that were on the stage last night in Atlanta and reproductive rights leaders, praised the announcement:

• Alexis McGill Johnson, Acting President & CEO of Planned Parenthood
• Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL
• Stephanie Schriock, President of Emily’s List
• Cecile Richards, Former President of Planned Parenthood
• Hillary Clinton, Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic Presidential Nominee
• Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (NY)
• Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator (CA) & former Democratic Attorney General
• Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator (MA)
• Julian Castro, former Secretary of Housing & Urban Development

The endorsement process announcement is part of DAGA’s continued evolution as a leading committee:

• In 2016, DAGA moved from a part-time committee based in Colorado to a full-time organization that won two-out-of-three battleground races going head-to-head with the Republican Attorneys General Association.
• In 2017, DAGA secured the re-election of Virginia AG Mark Herring and launched a Women’s Initiative to elect more women to the office of state Attorney General with an expressed commitment to equal representation.
• In 2018, DAGA helped flip four seats blue and elect the most diverse coalition of Democratic Attorneys General in history.

“This pro-reproductive rights requirement for candidates is the next step as DAGA continues to elect leaders that voters can trust to lead with values and protect their rights.”

DAGA Co-Chair Oregon AG Ellen Rosenblum

For more information about this announcement, including additional details and quotes from DAGA Executive Committee Members, the press release is here.