Trevis Harrold, Democratic candidate for House District 55, says that one of his priorities is protecting women’s reproductive rights. According to Harrold, “I am committed to safeguarding and advancing women’s rights.” As part of his plans, Harrold says that he will ensure that “all women have access to comprehensive reproductive health, regardless of their economic status.” In addition, Harrold states that he “will also work to improve local access to family planning services and educational resources and fight any attempts that threaten these fundamental rights.” Harrold says “[w]e can build a healthier, more equitable community by ensuring these rights are protected and that every Michigander has access to affordable/accessible healthcare.”

After the repeal of Roe v. Wade, there was no longer a constitutional protection for abortion rights, and states all over the country moved to enact strict abortion laws. In Michigan, an existing 1931 ban on abortion could have become law once again. However, the Michigan legislature took action, with a majority of Democratic legislators voting to repeal the ban. 

Harrold’s Republican opponent is incumbent Mark Tisdel. Rep. Tisdel is endorsed by the anti-choice group Right to Life of Michigan, which requires its endorsed candidates to support a ban on all abortions without exception other than the life of the mother – even in the case of rape or incest. 

During a 2022 candidate forum with the League of Women Voters, Rep. Tisdel said, “[m]y biggest problem with the law is that it refers to abortion as manslaughter… the legal definition of manslaughter is killing a human being without malice aforethought. Now, if in fact the fetus is a human being, there’s certainly malice aforethought involved in that. So I don’t think that manslaughter is the right felony to put on that… If it is defined legally as a human being, then terminating the life of a human being, except in self defense, is murder.” It does not appear that Rep. Tisdel has publicly denounced these comments.

Rep. Tisdel also voted against the group of bills that removed the 1931 abortion ban from Michigan law.