NEW: Lee Zeldin Vows to Reverse New York’s Reproductive Health Act

NEW YORK – New reporting from the Times Union reveals Lee Zeldin promised to reverse New York’s Reproductive Health Act, which keeps abortion legal in New York. Without the protections of Roe v. Wade, the 2019 law protects New Yorkers’ fundamental rights by codifying Roe into state law. This latest revelation makes it clear that despite his recent claims, Zeldin is going full steam ahead to roll back women’s healthcare in New York.

In recent weeks, Zeldin has attempted to lie to voters about his far-right record and extreme positions. Yet, the full footage of Zeldin’s hour-long town hall with an anti-abortion group just a few months ago shows he’s lying again about his agenda and offering comprehensive plans to destroy New Yorkers fundamental rights.

New Findings:

• According to the TU: “Speaking about the Reproductive Health Act — a 2019 state law that expanded abortion rights and eliminated several restrictions — Zeldin told the group: ‘I absolutely do not support these changes that have been made up in Albany. I strongly believe that they should be reversed.’” [18:56]

• “I look forward to serving as the first pro-life Governor in a very, very long time.” [27:41]

• “That whenever someone who claims to know better, tries to articulate that the pro-life position is the wrong position based on polls, aside from the fact that I’m not going to change my position on this based on any poll…” [54:40]

• “And they talk to me about this issue as if there’s any chance of getting me to flip flop on it. I have consistently, since I first ran for office, whenever I’ve been asked these questions, whenever I’ve had to take a vote, I have been 100% pro-life. …That is why I’m rated as 100% pro-life with the [Congressional] scorecards.” [56:20] 

NY1 previously reported that Zeldin would appoint a “pro-life” health commissioner and that anti-abortion advocates would have “open-door” access to his administration if elected. 

“Lee Zeldin knows his anti-abortion agenda is deeply disqualifying to New Yorkers and continues to lie to voters about his record as a last-ditch effort to save his flailing campaign,” said Campaign Spokeswoman Jen Goodman. “Just this past year, he signed onto a bill banning abortion without exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother. Zeldin is too dangerous and extreme to ever set foot in the governor’s office.”