A federal court ruling puts spotlight on abortion in Mass. governor's race

A federal appeals court ruling in New Orleans has thrust the issue of abortion into the Massachusetts governor's race — and is sharply dividing the two Republicans running to challenge Gov. Maura Healey.

The court ruling, which came Friday night, places constraints on a common abortion drug, mifepristone, halting its access through the mail for telehealth patients.

Healey issued a statement immediately after the decision, pledging to protect women's access to reproductive healthcare, including medication for abortions: "And we will keep standing up to efforts by President Trump and his allies to roll back reproductive rights.”

The issue will almost certainly go to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, this latest national threat to women's healthcare rights puts heat on the leading Republican in the race for governor, Mike Minogue.

Minogue, a conservative Catholic and wealthy former biotech executive, recently told WBUR he is "pro-life" and believes women should seek alternatives to abortion. On Sunday, he reiterated that stance on WCVB's "On the Record."

"I'm a Catholic and I am pro-life," Minogue said.

Minogue's spokeswoman, Erin Maguire, in a statement over the weekend reacting to the federal appeals court ruling, would say only: "As governor, Mike Minogue cannot and will not change the law."

She declined to elaborate.

Brian Shortsleeve, the venture capitalist and former MBTA chief who is also competing in the Republican primary, called Minogue's stance on abortion a sure road to a loss in the governor's race.

The Shortsleeve campaign shot out a press release titled, "Minogue’s Anti-Choice Declaration Destroys GOP Chances in November."

“In less than one minute in his first major appearance following the Republican convention, Mike Minogue gave Maura Healey all the ammunition she will need to defeat him in November,” Shortsleeve's campaign spokesman, Patrick Nestor, said in the release “Regardless of your personal opinion on the issue of abortion, one thing is crystal clear: you cannot beat an incumbent Democrat governor by being anti-choice.”

The Supreme Court overturned abortion as a nationwide right in 2022 but later preserved access to mifepristone. Healey joined other Democrat-led states in stockpiling the drug when there were fears of a crackdown. Demand for the drug from Massachusetts healthcare providers has surged, largely driven by people in states that have curtailed abortion rights.

Under the Friday ruling, patients would have to see doctors in person to get the drug.

In her statement, Healey called mifepristone a "safe, effective and essential medication," prescribed by Massachusetts providers via telehealth to tens of thousands of women here and across the country.

"This decision will hurt the health and wellbeing of women and should be immediately reversed," Healey said.