Sarah Riggs Amico, a former Democratic candidate for Georgia lieutenant governor, said Monday that she’s seriously considering running for Senate in 2020, citing the wave of laws across the country restricting abortion laws as a key concern for her.
The business executive is just one of several names being floated as a potential challenger to Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) after former Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Georgia, Stacey Abrams, formally announced that she would not be seeking a Senate bid last month.
“I’m very seriously considering it and I think this is an excellent opportunity for Democrats to flip a seat in the U.S. Senate,” Amico, the executive chairman of trucking and logistics provider Cooper Holdings, told Hill.TV.
“Control of the U.S. Senate has never been more important,” she continued. “We’re seeing that with these abortion bans across the United States.”
Earlier this month, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed legislation banning abortions once a fetus has a detectable heartbeat, which generally can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy and before many women know that they’re pregnant.
The legislation, known as the “fetal heartbeat” bill, is expected to become law on Jan. 1. Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have all approved a similar six-week ban.
And last week, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed into law a controversial state ban on abortions in nearly all cases, including rape or incest.
But several advocacy groups hope to prevent these laws from going into effect.
Shortly following the passage of Georgia’s heartbeat bill, the American Civil Liberties Union vowed to sue the state over the legislation and work to remove Republican lawmakers who voted for it. The organization has also sued other states with bills that restrict abortions, including Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio.
Amico supports the ACLU’s moves, saying women should be able to make their own health care decisions.
“The reality is a woman needs to be able to make her health care decisions privately with her health care provider,” she said.
—Tess Bonn
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