Mike Rogers’ ‘Fetal Personhood’ Stance Threatens IVF, Contraception

Article Summary –

Mike Rogers, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Michigan, supports states handling the abortion issue and keeping fertility treatments like IVF legal, despite his past Congressional votes for restrictive abortion laws, including “fetal personhood” legislation. During his tenure from 2001 to 2015, he co-sponsored and voted for multiple bills that would impose severe restrictions on abortion, including national bans and legislation that could threaten the legality of IVF and certain contraceptives. Although Michigan voters affirmed abortion rights in 2022, Rogers, identifying as pro-life, indicated he would likely have opposed the measure, leading critics to question his consistency and trustworthiness on these issues.

Michigan Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers believes abortion should be managed by states. On his campaign website, he supports keeping in vitro fertilization (IVF) legal and accessible.

While serving in Congress from 2001 to 2015, Rogers voted for laws that interfered with bodily autonomy, including “fetal personhood” laws.

Rogers is running for the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow against Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin in the Nov. 5 general election.

In 2003, Rogers co-sponsored legislation to withdraw federal approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, and again in 2005.

In 2013, he co-sponsored the “Life at Conception Act,” which could restrict access to IVF and birth control methods like IUDs and Plan B. The bill aimed to “implement equal protection under the 14th amendment for the right to life of each born and preborn human person.”

If personhood laws are enacted, embryos created via IVF would be considered unborn children, and destroying them could be seen as murder. Supporters argue life begins at fertilization, potentially affecting contraception and emergency contraception.

“Assuming you interpret personhood as American abortion opponents do, you can’t support both IVF and fetal personhood,” said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California Davis.

In 2022, Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment affirming abortion rights without gestational age restrictions. Rogers, then living in Florida, stated during a March 2023 interview that while unfamiliar with the measure, he likely wouldn’t have voted for it, citing his pro-life stance.

“Mike Rogers can’t hide from his extensive record backing abortion bans which would rip away Michiganders’ freedom to make their own personal medical decisions,” Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Chan stated on Sept. 17. “It’s clear that Rogers will say and do anything to benefit himself, and Michigan families can’t trust him to represent us.”