Huntington Mayor Steve Williams Delivers Petition for Abortion Ballot Measure During Special Legislative Session

Huntington Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams made a bold move on Monday by delivering a petition to lawmakers during a special legislative session. The petition, which garnered 2,505 signatures, urges Gov. Jim Justice to add reproductive rights to the agenda so that West Virginia voters can decide on a constitutional amendment “restoring reproductive freedom.”

Despite not being on the initial list of issues for the special session, Williams and other Democrats are pushing for the inclusion of reproductive rights in the discussions. Del. Sean Hornbuckle, the Democratic House minority leader for the House of Delegates, will ensure that the petition is presented to the House Clerk.

The push for reproductive rights comes after a previous attempt during the regular legislative session earlier this year, where legislation calling for a ballot measure on reproductive decisions did not gain traction. With Republicans holding majority control in both chambers since 2015, any resolution on reproductive rights would face an uphill battle.

Williams acknowledged that the petition may not immediately lead to legalizing abortion in the state, but he emphasized the importance of making a statement. With a significant portion of West Virginia voters being women, Williams believes that the issue of reproductive rights will be a key factor in future elections.

As the debate on reproductive rights continues in West Virginia, it remains to be seen how lawmakers will address the petition and whether the issue will gain momentum during the special legislative session.