Douglas Emhoff, the Second Gentleman of the United States, visited Tucson as part of the Harris-Walz campaign’s New Way Forward tour Sept. 12. The tour is meant to engage swing states on key issues, with appearances by Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, her running mate Tim Walz and their spouses Emhoff and Gwen Walz. 

Emhoff’s visit to Tucson revolved around reproductive rights, the impact of the overturning of  Roe v. Wade and the ways Arizonans can vote to protect abortion access. The event was closed to the public with 450 approved guests in attendance, as confirmed by the Harris-Walz campaign.

Guest speakers and local leaders discussed the impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the options that Arizonans have to protect abortion access locally and nationwide. 

Josh Zurawski, a reproductive rights advocate and national storyteller, shared how the decision impacted him and his wife, Amanda Zurawski. Amanda Zurawski was a plaintiff in the first challenge to a state-level abortion ban after the overturning of Roe v. Wade that advocated for women denied medically necessary abortions. 

Texas’ abortion restrictions prevented doctors from performing an abortion on Amanda after her pregnancy was no longer viable because Amanda’s life was not considered to be in immediate danger.

“Our doctors’ hands were tied. Because of extreme abortion bans in our state, doctors were forced to send us home until Amanda’s life was considered in danger,” Josh Zurawski said. 

Amanda developed sepsis three days later and faced additional health complications due to a delay in care. 

“If Donald Trump gets back into the White House, it will get so much worse,” Josh Zurawski said. “We need to fight back.” 

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero also condemned the extreme abortion restrictions the Zurawskis faced in Texas and reflected on the discussion of reproductive rights in the recent presidential debate.

“Trump’s refusal to say he would veto a national abortion ban was clear,” Romero said. “His ridiculous and inaccurate statements about late-term abortions are unhinged.”

Romero contrasted Trump’s remarks on abortion with Vice President Harris’ stance.

“[Harris] said loud and clear that when Congress passes a bill to restore and protect our reproductive freedom nationwide, she will sign it,” Romero said, “We need to make sure that we deliver Tucson for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. We know that the road to the White House goes through Arizona.” 

Romero also called attention to local efforts to pass Arizona Proposition 139, which would amend the state constitution to guarantee abortion rights up to fetal viability and allow exceptions to protect the health or life of the patient. 

“We have the chance to take action with Proposition 139 on the ballot this year,” Romero said. “As First Lady Michelle Obama said at the National Convention—let’s do something!”

Emhoff then took the stage, praising Harris’ performance on the campaign trail. 

“I always knew she was incredible, but now she’s the most badass version of herself,” Emhoff said. “She stepped up for us, now we have to step up for her, especially right here in Tucson.”

Emhoff, steering the discussion towards reproductive rights, reflected on the day that Roe v. Wade was overturned in the Dobbs decision in 2022. 

According to Emhoff, his daughter Ella texted him shortly after the decision.

“Horrible, horrible, horrible day,” she texted. “Time to fight. I’m angry and I don’t want to stand by silently. You need to do something about this.”

Emhoff recalled that his 83-year-old mother called him shortly after. 

“For women of my mothers age to have fought so hard with so many other women and men to then see that just ripped away […] it was just appalling to her,” Emhoff said. 

“[Trump] set us back over 50 years from all the things that my mom and her generation fought for, and now Ella, her generation and all of us have to fight for it and bring it back. The first step is electing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” Emhoff said.

Emhoff departed the venue at approximately 7:30 p.m., headed for Nevada to continue the tour after visiting both Arizona and North Carolina Sept. 12.

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