Like many of you, I was shocked by the news last night that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade and make it illegal to have an abortion in large swaths of this country.

I know it’s alarming, and we in the Congress must do everything we can to protect the right to choose — including eliminating the filibuster to pass legislation to that effect. But there are two important things to know right now:

1. 1. This is just a draft opinion, and as of today abortion is not illegal. But it does mean that a right-wing majority on the court is poised to destroy the right to an abortion — a right that has protected the health and safety of millions of American women for nearly 50 years.

1. Regardless of what happens with this opinion, California will always protect the right to have an abortion. I support Governor Newsom and the State Assembly’s plan to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, and my hope is that if the worst comes to pass and the Supreme Court does indeed strike down Roe, California will remain a safe haven for people seeking a safe abortion.

But the urgency of this moment means we cannot afford to wait for this draft opinion to become law. We have got to act now and do what we can right away. That’s why today, I’m asking you to split a donation between the Planned Parenthood of California, and NARAL Pro-Choice California.

Please split a donation between Planned Parenthood of California and NARAL Pro-Choice California. Every penny will go directly toward fighting to protect the right to choose, not a cent to my campaign.

Thank you,  I know this fight is only just getting started, and my team and I will be in touch with more soon.

– Alex Padilla