'Betrayal' To 'All Life Has Value': MN Officials React To End Of Roe

MINNEAPOLIS — Republicans from Minnesota praised the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Friday, while Democrats from the state reacted with anger and horror.

"Today's historic ruling by the Supreme Court will save countless innocent lives," said Republican Rep. Pete Stauber. "As the father of five beautiful children, I believe that all life has value and should be protected."

"This opinion doesn’t bring us back to the 1950s. It brings us back to the 1850s," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat.

RELATED: Protestors Gather After Supreme Court Strikes Down Roe V. Wade

The court's 6-3 decision Friday was expected in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization because in May, Justice Samuel Alito Jr.'s majority opinion draft was leaked to Politico.

"This decision is an extraordinary betrayal not just of women but democracy itself," wrote Sen. Tina Smith Friday, a Democrat who previously worked as a Planned Parenthood executive.

Of its immediate neighbors, the state of Minnesota has the most liberal abortion laws. Under Minnesota law, abortions are allowed up to 20 weeks during pregnancy.

As a result, Minneapolis is set to become an abortion destination following the Supreme Court's ruling. Minnesota has 11 abortion clinics, according to the pro-abortion rights Guttmacher Institute. Of those, the majority are in the Twin Cities metro area.

Earlier this week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison vowed to legally protect residents and women coming from other states seeking an abortion.

Meanwhile, North and South Dakota have abortion bans that are set to take effect following the decision. Iowa and Wisconsin already have laws on the books that ban abortion.

Also read: Roe V. Wade Overturned: What It Means In Minnesota

"This ruling changes nothing in Minnesota today, tomorrow, or as long as I am governor," vowed Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat. "We will not turn back the clock on reproductive rights."

"This is a tremendous victory for the U.S. Constitution, the rule of law, and the sanctity of life," Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman David Hann said. "It was widely accepted that Roe v. Wade was deeply flawed on constitutional grounds."

"This decision is devastating for millions of women and pregnant people across the country," Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minneapolis Democrat, said.

"This Supreme Court decision is a direct attack on women. It overturns a fundamental right to make our own health care choices. Abortion remains legal in Minnesota, but we are now in a nationwide battle – and I will never stop fighting for our rights," wrote Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat who represents the east Twin Cities metro area.

Democrat Rep. Angie Craig, who represents the south Twin Cities metro area and parts of southern Minnesota, said, "Today’s ruling is a calamitous decision that upends decades of precedent and rolls back fundamental rights for millions of Americans. And it is just the beginning of government overreach into the private, personal decisions of American families."

Political organizations based in Minnesota also reacted strongly to the decision to overturn Roe.

"Because of this decision, fewer children in the womb will be lost to abortion in the coming days," said Minnesota Family Council CEO John Helmberger. "Because of this decision, predatory clinics like Planned Parenthood will be able to target fewer women at their most vulnerable."

"This is the worst case scenario and will harm millions of people," Pro-Choice Minnesota said. "Hostile states already have and will likely try to ban abortion very soon, but today, ABORTION IS STILL LEGAL in Minnesota. Abortion funds, clinics, and support networks are here to help you — do not cancel your appointments."