Whitmer, reproductive rights advocates urge no vote on ‘devastating’ constitutional convention

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined reproductive freedom leaders in advocating against a ballot measure that would launch a constitutional convention in Michigan, arguing that it would open the door to removing constitutional protections for abortion access and reproductive rights, which were enshrined in the state constitution through a ballot measure in 2022. 

“This is not an attempt to work around the will of the people,” Whitmer said in a virtual press conference Wednesday. “It is an attempt to undo the will of the people, and we can’t let that happen.”

Loren Khogali, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan, emphasized that in opposing this ballot measure, she is not saying that the Michigan Constitution is perfect. 

“What I am saying is that a broad, open-ended constitutional convention poses serious risks to the civil rights and the civil liberties of every person in Michigan. The kind of legal uncertainty and risk that would be opened by a constitutional convention are simply unnecessary,” she said. “Now more than ever, we can’t risk opening up our state constitution to a complete rewrite. Voting no on proposal one will help Michigan avoid the long-lasting consequences and, quite frankly, devastating consequences for our state.”

Paula Thornton Greear, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, said that passing the ballot measure and convening a constitutional convention would be “gambling with our reproductive freedom.”

She also focused on the lack of clear guidelines for public oversight of the constitutional convention process — a contrast to the ballot measure that enshrined abortion access in 2022, which happened through a public process of signature gathering and voting. 

“A constitutional convention would look very different,” she said. “It would mean certain people locked away in a Lansing room drafting a constitution on their own terms to serve their own selfish interest. Politicians shouldn’t have the power to make decisions over our lives and bodies. That power belongs to us, the people, and the people have overwhelmingly spoken in support of abortion rights.”

A large coalition of organizations has come out in opposition to the proposal to launch a constitutional convention, including Right to Life of Michigan.

Many opposition groups cite the possibility for special interests to intervene in the process, a sentiment echoed by the reproductive rights advocates on Wednesday’s call. 

“Wealthy donors and anti-abortion extremists want to exploit a constitutional convention,” Sommer Foster, executive director at Michigan Voices, said. “They could use it as a backdoor to rewrite the Michigan Constitution to promote their narrow agenda instead of the will of everyday Michiganders. Constitutional protections and freedoms that Michiganders fought for and currently enjoy under our state constitution would be at risk.”

Despite wide-ranging opposition, a poll conducted between late August and early September showed that 47% of voters — a plurality, but not a majority — would vote yes on the proposal to hold a constitutional convention. Thirty-one percent said they opposed the proposal, while about 22% remained undecided.

As for how to sway public opinion on the question, Foster noted that the vast majority of Michigan voters have never witnessed a constitutional convention — the last convention was held in the 1960s.

“They don’t know what a constitutional convention would mean for the state,” she said. “For us, we want to use this opportunity in the next 30-some days before the election to make sure we educate people on what a constitutional convention would mean, what’s at risk, and what it would mean for the next couple of years for our state, and how much money would be spent in the ecosystem on a constitutional convention. I think once people get that information, they would be more opposed to the convention.”

Shanay Watson-Whittaker, the director of Michigan campaigns at Reproductive Freedom for All, added that she understands the frustrations of voters with the current Trump administration and their desire for change, but she emphasized the need to make that change by electing candidates who support reproductive rights, rather than through a constitutional convention.