AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas woman who was at the center of one of the country's most high profile abortion rights cases since the overturning of Roe v. Wade will be in attendance at President Biden's State of the Union address on March 7, according to a report from AP.
Dallas mother Kate Cox, 31, sued the State of Texas over the ability to get an abortion to end an unwanted pregnancy. The Texas Supreme Court denied Cox’s request, but she had already traveled out of state for an abortion, according to her lawyers.
Cox will attend the address as a guest of First Lady Jill Biden.
Cox was pregnant with her third child when she learned the baby had a rare genetic disorder. She and her partner were informed by doctors the baby would live for a week, at best.
Cox sued over the right to have an abortion to end the pregnancy but lost after judges said she hadn't shown her life was in danger enough to be granted the procedure.
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa released a statement following the news of Cox’s invitation:
“President Biden and Vice President Harris understand the serious implications of women’s health and the consequences of Trump’s abortion bans – that’s they are laser focused on protecting our freedoms and codifying Roe. From the Roe v. Wade decision to the brave women suing the state of Texas over the current abortion ban – it is clear that Texans have remained at the forefront of the fight to protect abortion access for decades and Kate Cox’s presence at this year’s State of the Union address will send a powerful message to voters nationwide.
“It is imperative that each and every voter understands the ramifications of what Donald Trump and Ted Cruz’s national abortion would have on American’s reproductive health. Trump has said there should be “punishment” for women like Kate Cox who get abortions – and in the past year, Trump endorsed a federal ban, promising “to be leading the charge” in getting one passed. The barbarity of Donald Trump and Texas Republicans’ outright abortion ban could’ve cost Kate Cox her life, and while we reiterate that Cox and other Texans in her shoes should never be put in this position – we are grateful that President Biden is spotlighting the reality of Texas women’s nightmare in the State of the Union address.”
The White House invitation reflects how strongly the administration is leaning into reproductive rights as a galvanizing force for voters in the upcoming presidential election after the Supreme Court overturned abortion protections in 2022.
On Tuesday, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside their respective spouses, centered their first major campaign rally of the election year on abortion rights.
In his speech, Biden spoke about the increased medical challenges women are facing since the fall of Roe v. Wade, particularly for women who never intended to end their pregnancies. He laid the blame on Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, who as president appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court.
This will be the first State of the Union under Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. This year’s speech will offer an opportunity for Biden to detail his broader vision and policy priorities as he campaigns for reelection in November.