2026 has officially begun, kicking off an extremely important election year for our state. Several key positions in Michigan’s government will be on the ballot in November, such as governor, attorney general, state senators and representatives, our Congressional delegation and more. These positions are essential in passing safeguards for women in our state, such as giving them open access to abortion reporting and defending parental consent for a minor seeking abortion. I encourage you to check back with us frequently (at rtl.org) as our endorsements come out in the next few months and we work towards electing pro-life candidates who will help make the choice for life more accessible to women in Michigan.
While these elections are undeniably critical to our mission, it’s also important to pause and remember why our votes and advocacy matter so deeply. January is a fitting time for that reflection, as January 22 marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that imposed a nationwide “right” to abortion.
I remember attending the National March for Life during my senior year of high school in 2020, standing in solidarity with women and the unborn and calling for the Roe decision to be overturned. But I was hesitant that my voice could make a difference. Even as someone who was proudly pro-life, I remember thinking, “There’s no way we can win this anytime soon. This battle feels too big.” I am very grateful that I was wrong!
Just over two years later, the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, ending a national right to abortion and returning the issue to the states. I vividly remember the overwhelming mix of joy and disbelief that I felt, along with gratitude for the countless individuals who had spent 49 years working tirelessly to make that day possible.
Not long after, however, Michigan voters passed Proposal 3, legalizing abortion in our state for any reason through all nine months of pregnancy. My excitement turned to heartbreak as I realized how many lives would still be lost to abortion here at home. Like many of you, I knew I could not walk away or leave this issue as “someone else’s problem.” Abortion affects real women, men, children, and families every single day. Our responsibility is to protect the vulnerable and to promote the hopeful and courageous choice for life. We had just won a major victory for life with the Dobbs decision, and I was now confident we could continue to win.
And win we did. In the last major election in 2024, nearly 90% of our pro-life endorsed candidates won their races, taking back a pro-life majority in the State House and creating a check on Governor Whitmer’s abortion-obsessed agenda. We can continue off that success this year, but we need to be actively engaged in defending life.
Since 1974, pro-lifers traveled to Washington, D.C., year after year, to march for life. Their persistence mattered. Their voices mattered. Their commitment helped lead to a historic victory for women and the unborn.
I now know that no battle is too big. The pro-life movement stands for life, for what is right and just, and a mission guided by those principles is beyond worthy of our support.
That is why our vote is essential. It matters to the unborn child, whose life has inherent and immeasurable value. It matters to the woman or couple facing an unexpected pregnancy, often told that abortion is their only option. And it matters to the future of our state.
Our engagement, our advocacy, and our votes truly make a difference. We thank you for your continuous effort in standing for life, especially in the important year ahead. Check us out at rtl.org.
Email any questions to Danny Earl at [email protected].