Abortion Ban Supporter Joe O’Dea Wants to Bring “Balance to Women’s Rights”

MORE: Democrats and abortion rights groups slam O’Dea for out-of-touch position on abortion

GOP Senate candidate Joe O’Dea said the quiet part out loud last week and told 9News in an interview that he wants to go to the Senate to bring “balance to women’s rights.” O’Dea also tried to downplay his vote for a no exceptions 22-week abortion ban when Fox 31 pressed O’Dea on his contradictory positions on abortion and said “I didn’t write that bill” and praised the bill for restricting abortion rights. 

This comes after O’Dea’s recent admission of voting yes for Prop 115, a 2020 Colorado ballot measure that would’ve imposed a no exceptions 22-week abortion ban. O’Dea, who calls himself “pro-life,” also supports a nationwide ban on abortion, opposes Colorado’s law that guarantees the right to choose and called it “reckless,” and he would’ve voted to confirm all of the Supreme Court Justices nominated by Trump and George W. Bush, the majority of whom overturned Roe v. Wade.

“Joe O’Dea has said enough for Coloradans to know where he stands on abortion. He voted for a no exceptions abortion ban, would’ve voted to confirm the justices who overturned Roe, and now he wants to go to the Senate to ‘balance’ women’s rights. O’Dea is undoubtedly anti-choice and Coloradans can’t trust him to protect their rights in the Senate.” – Colorado Democratic Party spokesperson Nico Delgado

9News Denver: 

“Well, here's the deal. I'm going to the Senate to negotiate a good bill that brings balance to women's rights.” 

Fox 31:

“I didn’t write [the 22-week abortion ban], that was an either or. I thought it did some good things...”

What they’re saying: 

Senator Michael Bennet: “I believe every woman should have reproductive freedom. These deeply personal decisions should be between a woman and her doctor, not the government. My opponent wants to tell women what health care they can or cannot have.”

Senator John Hickenlooper: “Joe O’Dea wants to ‘balance’ women's rights with his misogyny?”

Representative Diana DeGette: “Joe O’Dea is claiming he wants to ‘balance’ women’s rights. This is really simple: We don't need Joe O'Dea — or any other politician — balancing our rights.” 

State Senator Kerry Donovan: “My rights aren’t for you to use at a negotiation table. Your rehearsed answer of ‘I support abortion except for all these ways I don’t’ clearly shows how you’ll balance the scale. No thanks @ODeaForColorado.”

COLOR Action Fund: “By ‘balance’ you mean you're asking women to compromise on their fundamental freedom to choose - and we will not do that!”

Cobalt Advocates: “Forcing someone to continue a pregnancy against their will is a violation of their basic humanity, their rights, and their freedom. Not ‘balance.’”