A constitutional convention to limit abortion rights? Democrats push back on DeBoyer suggestion

Michigan Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township), the Republican lieutenant governor nominee and running mate to U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) faced backlash from Democrats and reproductive rights groups after he floated the idea of re-introducing limits on abortion in Michigan via a constitutional convention.

At a news conference Tuesday, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Democratic lieutenant governor nominee, called the remarks shocking.   During a Saturday event in Battle Creek, DeBoyer proposed banning abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy by enshrining those limits in the state constitution through a convention. The comments were first reported by The Detroit News. Michigan’s voters will decide in November whether to hold a constitutional convention in 2027.

“Sometimes, you have to say to yourself, ‘This might be our only way,’” DeBoyer said, according to the Detroit News. “It might be, and I don’t know that I’m going to vote yes on it. I’m just giving you the argument that it might be our only way to make some of these modifications.”

Asking an audience member about new restrictions on abortion, he continued on to say, “If I could get that pulled off today and get it reeled back to 12 weeks, would you support me?” 

DeBoyer, who described himself as “a staunch pro-life guy,” was met with a positive response. 

Although DeBoyer did not dispute the statement, he walked back the sentiment to the News, saying that the issue was “settled,” similar to language used by James in 2024 in his re-election bid for Congress, when he said, “the fact of the matter is that abortion is enshrined in our (state) constitution.”

Alyvia Bailey, a spokesperson for the James-DeBoyer campaign, reiterated the same message to the Michigan Advance and said, “The abortion issue has been settled by the people of Michigan.” Bailey added that further back-and-forth on the topic was a distraction from other campaign issues. 

However, Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), the Democratic Party nominee for lieutenant governor, disputed that framing in a call with reporters. Brinks said that  “the reproductive freedom issue is clearly not settled so long as John James and Jay DeBoyer have a shot at becoming governor and lieutenant governor.”

Brinks said DeBoyer and James, and the GOP as a whole, were “clearly trying to say one thing and do another, or say nothing and then go after our rights.”

James’ vote record on reproductive rights has been celebrated by anti-abortion groups, and in his 2018 U.S. Senate bid, he compared abortion to “genocide.”

DeBoyer’s statements similarly drew the ire of reproductive rights organizations. 

“We need to believe John James and Jay DeBoyer when they tell us they are anti-abortion extremists,” said Shanay Watson-Whittaker, the director of Michigan campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All, during the Tuesday press call. “Voters are watching, and they will hold DeBoyer and James accountable at the polls.”

Watson-Whittaker also warned that, while DeBoyer had floated the idea of putting in place abortion restrictions by way of a constitutional convention, she would expect them to “use any means possible” to do so if the constitutional convention ballot measure fails. 

“This is not the only avenue, we have to stay vigilant,” Watson-Whittaker said.

Dr. Melissa Bayne, an OB/GYN in west Michigan and member of the Committee to Protect Healthcare’s Reproductive Freedom Taskforce, called the comments “deeply disturbing.”

“Not only does DeBoyer’s plan fly in the face of Michigan voters, who spoke loudly and clearly when they passed the Reproductive Freedom for All amendment, but it’s downright dangerous,” Bayne said. “We’re seeing how abortion bans in other states are harming women’s health and even taking their lives. Ignoring the will of the voters to once again ban abortion in our state would lead to preventable deaths here too.”

Bayne added that “John James and Jay DeBoyer should stick to politics and leave medicine to the physicians.”

Paula Thornton Greear, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, said DeBoyer suggesting a constitutional convention as a way to restrict abortion access “is deeply concerning.”  

“Michiganders deserve leaders who respect the rights they secured at the ballot box, not ones who look for new ways to take those rights away,” Greear said. “Rep. DeBoyer may now say that abortion rights are ‘settled’ in Michigan, but his recent comments tell a different story.”

In a Facebook post, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said “Michigan voters already made reproductive freedom a constitutional right. Now Republicans want to overturn your rights and overrule your vote.”

A spokesperson for Right to Life of Michigan did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. This story will be updated when a response is received.