In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, the American reproductive landscape has undergone a seismic shift. The ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping federal protection for abortion rights and returning the authority to individual states. While many red states moved quickly to outlaw or severely restrict access to abortion, blue states like Illinois responded with defiance—and action.
At the heart of this resistance is Personal PAC, a political action committee that has supported abortion-rights candidates in Illinois for decades. Now, three years after Dobbs, the organization is expanding its influence across red states, sharing its winning playbook with activists in places like Indiana and Arkansas—states where abortion is nearly impossible to access.
Illinois: A Reproductive Refuge in a Divided Nation
Illinois has rapidly become a sanctuary for reproductive health care. Since the fall of Roe, the state has witnessed an overwhelming influx of patients seeking abortions. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the number of out-of-state abortions rose from 11,307 in 2021 to 26,168 in 2023—a more than 130% increase in just two years.
What’s fueling this surge? Geography, affordability, and policy. Unlike New York or California, which are costlier and harder to reach for many in the Midwest and South, Illinois is accessible by car. This makes it a critical access point for women forced to flee their home states for care.
In 2024 alone, Illinois received over 35,000 medical refugees—individuals and families who had no choice but to cross state lines to access essential reproductive services.
A Medical Exodus: How Dobbs Is Driving Out Doctors
The consequences of Dobbs aren’t limited to patients. The ruling is disrupting the medical profession nationwide. Doctors, especially gynecologists and obstetricians, are leaving restrictive states in growing numbers.
In states like Georgia and Missouri, abortion bans and anti-choice legislation have created hostile environments for medical professionals. Many are barred from discussing abortion—even when it is medically necessary. Residency programs are being gutted, and entire medical networks are destabilizing.
This exodus doesn’t just affect abortion—it compromises access to basic gynecological care, including mammograms, pap smears, and fertility treatments. The long-term impact? A looming healthcare desert in many red states.
Personal PAC’s Playbook: From Illinois to Red America
At the center of this resistance is Sarah Garza Resnick, CEO of Personal PAC. Under her leadership, the organization has refined a robust electoral strategy that focuses on candidate education, public engagement, and unyielding advocacy for 100% pro-reproductive freedom—without exceptions.
Now, Personal PAC is sharing that strategy with activists in states like Indiana, Arkansas, and Missouri. Resnick explains, “We’ve been talking to new organizations, sharing our playbook, our questionnaires, and ideas about where to start.”
This grassroots expansion isn’t a quick fix. But as Resnick points out, “The anti-choice movement has been incredibly deliberate for decades. We need that same level of patience and dedication.”
Abortion as a Political and Economic Issue
Despite its deep cultural roots, abortion has always been politicized in America. But Resnick emphasizes that it’s also an economic issue. “Having a child when you’re not ready can disrupt your job, education, and financial stability,” she notes.
Yet anti-abortion legislation continues to surge—from city councils to Congress—even though abortion remains broadly popular among American voters. Federal Medicaid still does not cover abortion services, and what were once fringe policies are now becoming legislative norms.
The divide between voters and politicians continues to grow, particularly in battleground states where abortion remains a top issue.
The Rise of Ballot Measures—And Their Limitations
In several states, reproductive rights are being put directly on the ballot. In Ohio, voters recently supported a measure to protect abortion access in the state constitution. However, the legislature is now actively trying to override that decision by introducing new abortion bans.
Resnick warns against viewing ballot initiatives as silver bullets. “These aren’t quick wins. The real work happens at the local level—building networks, winning small elections, and changing the conversation over time.”
With 2026 midterms approaching, key states like Missouri and Nevada will test just how deeply abortion rights can influence electoral outcomes.
Room for Nuance: Supporting Choice Without Personal Alignment
One of the more insightful perspectives Resnick offers is the space for nuanced beliefs in the reproductive rights movement. She supports candidates who may be personally opposed to abortion but believe the government should stay out of pregnancy decisions.
“You don’t know what you’re going to do until you’re in that circumstance,” she says. “I didn’t anticipate an unplanned pregnancy. I would never judge someone for making the other choice.”
This pragmatic view is helping shift the conversation, making it less about ideology and more about personal autonomy and dignity.
Connecting the Dots: Dobbs and the Broader War on Autonomy
The ramifications of the Dobbs ruling are reverberating far beyond abortion. Recently, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, raising fears that Dobbs has opened the floodgates for broader state control over private medical decisions.
“These are all connected,” Resnick warns. “Whether it’s birth control, abortion, or gender-affirming care—it’s about who controls your body. The legal precedents that protected these rights for decades are being chipped away.”
Rising Threats: The New Era of Political Violence
As abortion rights become increasingly contentious, violence against clinics, providers, and supporters is on the rise. There has been a disturbing uptick in bomb threats, arson attacks, firebombings, and surveillance campaigns against clinics.
Resnick urges vigilance and zero tolerance for this political terrorism: “We can’t become numb to this. It should never be seen as normal.”
She also highlights the growing digital intimidation tactics like doxxing and targeted harassment that aim to silence advocacy groups and healthcare workers alike.
The Battle Ahead: Strategy, Patience, and Persistence
The future of reproductive rights in America is a battle of endurance. While anti-choice groups have spent decades laying legal groundwork and shaping public narratives, advocates like Personal PAC are rising to meet the moment with equal force.
Illinois stands as a blueprint for what’s possible—a sanctuary state, not only for those seeking care but for those building political infrastructure around it. With the 2026 midterms looming, grassroots organizing, patient storytelling, and coordinated electoral strategies will be crucial to reshaping the national conversation.
In the words of Garza Resnick, “This work takes time. But we’re not going anywhere. And we’re not backing down.”
Keywords: reproductive rights, abortion access, Dobbs decision, Personal PAC, Illinois abortion law, red states abortion ban, Sarah Garza Resnick, political violence abortion, gender affirming care ban, abortion rights midterms 2026, abortion ballot measures, medical refugees, anti-choice movement, abortion and economy.
