For Lauren Kuntz, reproductive rights were never just a political talking point.
Throughout her life, the Lancaster County resident was surrounded by strong women. Many of these women talked privately to Kuntz about their experiences with abortion. Those talks helped Kuntz understand that abortion was something people sometimes needed, even when it wasn’t talked about publicly.
During one conversation about reproductive rights, Kuntz’s grandmother recalled a time when abortion wasn’t legal and women she knew had to risk dangerous, back-alley procedures.
“She said, ‘I remember a time when there was no access to abortion legally, and I had friends that I went to school with that had dangerous abortions anyway, and that should never be taken away,’” Kuntz said. “It’s ridiculous that we have to fight for that again.”
Kuntz said her grandmother would never have an abortion herself, but she understood why safe access was necessary.
“Whether or not you ban abortions, they are going to happen, and the absolute least we can do is make them safe,” Kuntz said.
Years later, Kuntz found herself needing to make that decision herself.
She and her husband already had a 5-year-old son and were using birth control, but Kuntz became pregnant last year. With the family struggling to pay for basic necessities, they decided they could not afford to have another child.
Her husband told her the decision was ultimately hers.
“We can’t afford this,” Kuntz remembered thinking.
Kuntz went to Planned Parenthood and took medication to end the pregnancy. She ultimately experienced complications and required emergency treatment to stop the bleeding and save her life.
The experience reaffirmed something she had believed for years.
“It really reaffirmed that abortion access is healthcare,” Kuntz said.
Now, reproductive rights are top of mind for Kuntz when she considers who will get her vote.
According to research from Reproductive Freedom for All, eight in 10 voters say it is important for lawmakers to protect access to reproductive healthcare, including 58% who called it “very important.” Half said they wanted more laws protecting abortion nationwide. Forty-three percent of voters said support for an abortion ban would be a total dealbreaker.
The findings come as Pennsylvania voters prepare to choose lawmakers who could shape the future of abortion access in the commonwealth.
For Kuntz, that choice is personal.
“I am very tired of lawmakers trying to tell me and others that also share a uterus what we can and cannot do with it,” she said.
Repro rights in Pennsylvania races
When talking with voters in the 88th District, Democrat Sara Agerton said issues like affordability, healthcare, and housing are at the top of most of their lists. While reproductive freedom isn’t talked about as much as it was during the presidential race two years ago, it remains an important issue.
“I think abortion rights are women’s healthcare rights,” Agerton said. “I don’t believe in banning abortion.”
Agerton is running against Republican Jeff Clark for the open seat in the 88th State House District. Incumbent Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R) is not seeking reelection.
Agerton also pointed to the lack of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Cumberland County, saying residents have to travel elsewhere for services including STI testing. Agerton said she would support protecting reproductive rights in the state constitution.
According to Clark’s iVoter questionnaire, the Republican candidate believes that elective abortions should only be allowed to save the life of the mother, without any exceptions for rape or incest. He also believes that abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood should not receive federal or state funding, including Title X grants.
Clark did not respond to requests for comment.
In the 137th State House District, Democrat Jeff Warren is challenging Republican incumbent Joe Emrick.
Warren said his support for reproductive rights and abortion was shaped by people close to him. In college, a friend became pregnant after a sexual assault and ultimately had an abortion. Years later, another friend of his became pregnant, but had to abort so she could complete chemotherapy after learning she had breast cancer.
Those experiences, Warren said, made reproductive rights personal.
“No man should be telling a woman what to do with their bodies,” he said. He supports a constitutional amendment protecting the right to choose.
Emrick’s legislative record provides a contrast.
In December 2025, he voted against House Bill 1957, a proposed amendment that would have established a constitutional right to personal reproductive liberty in the state.
In 2017, Emrick voted for legislation to criminalize abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest.
In the 44th State House District, Democrat Hadley Haas is again challenging Republican incumbent Valerie Gaydos after facing off with her in 2024.
Haas said reproductive rights remain critical even as voters increasingly talk about affordability and other economic concerns.
“I think this remains an important issue and doesn’t make it less important to work on at the state level,” Haas said.
Haas said she supports protecting reproductive liberty in the state constitution, expanding access to contraception, and ensuring abortion remains a safe and legal option. She also said she would support legislation expanding contraceptive access.
Gaydos has previously said abortion should “rare, safe, and legal,” with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. She has also said medical decisions should generally be between a doctor and patient.
But Gaydos voted against HB 1957, the proposed constitutional amendment establishing a right to abortion, when it came before the House in December 2025.
For Kuntz, reproductive rights remain at center stage during the voting process, especially after her personal experience with abortion.
She said she does not believe reproductive rights are guaranteed in Pennsylvania.
“So long as we have people that are running and will not answer those questions as to whether or not it will stay accessible, it is at risk,” Kuntz said.
