Eleven days after the November 3 midterms, a lot of people in our community are asking the same hopeful question: does this mean abortion bans are about to end? In a few states with some of the strictest laws in the country, voters chose new governors and attorneys general who have said they want to expand access. In Texas, lawmakers have already filed bills to repeal the state's bans.
Here's the honest answer: nothing has changed yet. Every abortion ban that was in effect before Election Day is still in effect today. Newly elected officials haven't taken office, and in several states the lawmakers who would have to change the law are still divided. Below, we walk through what happened, what could realistically change, and how to protect yourself and get care in the meantime.
What happened
Stateline reports that Georgia, Iowa and Texas each elected a Democratic governor for the first time in decades, and that all three will also have Democratic attorneys general. In Georgia and Texas, Democrats will control the state House while Republicans keep the state Senate. Stateline also notes that Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin now have one party controlling the governor's office and both legislative chambers, which can make new protections easier to pass. And abortion rights supporters won three of this year's four abortion-related ballot measures, in Missouri, Nevada and Virginia. (We covered those results in our ballot results roundup.)
Some incoming officials have already said what they plan to do. According to Stateline, Texas Attorney General-elect Nathan Johnson has promised to stop suing telehealth abortion providers in other states, and Georgia Attorney General-elect Tanya Miller has opposed her state's six-week ban. In Georgia, Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, who the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports is the first Black woman ever elected governor of a U.S. state, has said Democrats will begin talking about whether to undo the six-week ban. The 19th notes that ban has been linked to the deaths of at least two women.
What's on the table in Texas
Bill filing for Texas's 2027 legislative session opened on November 9. That day, Rep. Donna Howard of Austin filed House Bill 126. According to CBS Austin, it would repeal all three of Texas's abortion bans (the 2022 trigger ban, the 2021 law known as SB 8, and a ban dating back to 1925), along with the required pre-abortion sonogram and 2021 limits on abortion pills. The Texas Tribune reports the bill would also repeal the 2023 state law banning gender-affirming care for minors, which matters a great deal to trans young people and their families.
Other proposals take a different route. House Joint Resolution 24, from Rep. John Bucy, would add a right to "personal reproductive autonomy" to the Texas Constitution, covering IVF, contraception and abortion. Another proposed amendment, from incoming Rep. Samantha Lopez-Resendez, would bar the Legislature from restricting abortion access. Constitutional amendments are a higher bar: they need a two-thirds vote in both chambers and then approval from voters.
Why change won't happen overnight
A bill has to pass both chambers and be signed by the governor. The Texas Legislature convenes January 12, and Republicans still hold the Senate. University of Texas law professor Rachel Rebouche told CBS Austin that HB 126 could pass the House but would struggle in the Senate, and that adding exceptions (for rape, incest or a pregnancy with no chance of survival after birth) may draw more support than a full repeal. Right now, Texas bans abortion from conception, with an exception only to save the pregnant person's life.
Supporters of the current laws are organizing too. Texas Values told CBS Austin it will keep fighting to protect them during the session, and pointed out that Texas's major abortion laws originally passed with some bipartisan support.
The same basic math applies in other states. A governor can veto new restrictions, and an attorney general can change how a law is enforced, but repealing a ban generally takes the legislature, and courts can weigh in along the way.
Who's most affected
Bans don't land evenly. Guttmacher Institute researchers have said that people with the fewest resources, and people who are already marginalized, bear the brunt of abortion bans. In our view, that includes Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian American, Pacific Islander and immigrant communities; people with low incomes; young people; disabled and chronically ill people for whom travel is hard or impossible; people in rural areas; survivors of violence; and trans men, nonbinary and Two-Spirit people who can get pregnant and often face extra barriers in health care.
What you can do
- Know the law where you live today. Guttmacher's interactive map of state abortion policies shows which laws are in effect now. A filed bill is not a law, so don't let a hopeful headline change your plans.
- Get care and support. AbortionFinder lists verified providers (in person and telehealth) plus funding and travel help. The National Abortion Federation Hotline (1-800-772-9100) offers information and financial help. The Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline (call or text 1-833-246-2632) connects you with doctors and nurses for free, private support, in English and Spanish.
- Know your legal rights. The Repro Legal Helpline (844-868-2812) offers free, confidential legal help no matter your age or immigration status, including if you are questioned about an abortion or a pregnancy loss.
- Find and contact your state lawmakers. Use Plural's Find Your Legislators tool, or in Texas, Who Represents Me?. A short call or email works: say who you are, where you live, which bill you care about and what you want them to do. Share a personal story only if it feels safe to you.
- Follow the bills yourself. You can read the full text of Texas HB 126 and track its progress on the Texas Legislature's website.
- Stay registered and keep voting. State legislatures, courts and local offices shape abortion access, so every election counts, not just the big ones. Check your registration at Vote.org or Vote.gov, and if anyone tries to stop you from voting, call the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
- Support community groups. Abortion funds and practical support groups help people pay for care, travel and childcare. AbortionFinder's funding search is a good place to find ones near you.
- Take care of your heart, too. Swinging between hope and frustration is exhausting. It's okay to step back from the news, lean on people who get it, and pace yourself. This is long work, and you don't have to carry it alone.
The Takeaway
The midterms opened real possibilities in some ban states, and that matters. But a new governor isn't a new law, and for now every ban is still in force. We believe every person deserves to make decisions about their own body, with dignity and without fear. Until the law catches up, get the care you need using trusted resources, let your lawmakers hear from you, and keep showing up at the ballot box, whatever your views.
Empower Pleasure doesn't endorse candidates. Updated as of November 14, 2026. Facts can change quickly, so check the linked sources for the latest.
Sources
- Resnick, S. / Stateline (2026). Democratic wins create abortion rights opportunities in states with strict laws
- Wong, A. / CBS Austin (2026). Lawmakers file abortion, reproductive autonomy bills ahead of Texas legislative session
- Fechter, J., Langford, T., & Nguyen, A. / The Texas Tribune (2026). Democrats chart ambitious course as bill filing begins for a divided Texas Legislature
- Luthra, S. / The 19th (2026). Could Texas reverse course on abortion? Democrats think there's an opening
- Bluestein, G. / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2026). Keisha Lance Bottoms elected Georgia governor, a first for a Black woman in US
- Texas Legislature (2026). H.B. No. 126, 90th Legislature, Regular Session (introduced text)
- Guttmacher Institute (2022). Abortion After Roe: New Comprehensive Map Tracks Abortion Policies and Statistics for Each State
- Guttmacher Institute (2026). Interactive Map: US Abortion Policies and Access After Roe
- Power to Decide (2026). AbortionFinder
- Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline (2026). The M+A (Miscarriage and Abortion) Hotline
- If/When/How (2026). Repro Legal Helpline
- Plural (2026). Find Your Legislators
- Texas Legislative Council (2026). Who Represents Me?
- Vote.org (2026). Everything You Need to Vote
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission (2026). Vote.gov
Photo: Brett Sayles / Pexels
