Dupage Policy Journal

GOP gubernatorial hopeful Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin is being tight-lipped about the historic leak of a draft decision that would overturn American federal rights to abortion. 

"That's a leaked draft out of the Supreme Court," Irvin told ABC’s Craig Wall. "That's not a final draft. I think it's irresponsible for us to opine and hypothesize on a draft when we don't have the final decision. So we got to wait for that final decision.”

Wall broke the story after tracing down Irvin, who has been famously reluctant to engage with the public. He conducted an impromptu interview on the street outside of a coffee shop where Irvin posed for a picture while cutting a ribbon. Wall said he took the step to track down Irvin in person after his campaign did not agree to one-on-one interviews after he announced his candidacy. Instead, Irvin has been spending tens of millions given to him by Citadel CEO Ken Griffin on his TV ads. Irvin had not made a public appearance in around two months when the piece came out.

Irvin previously failed to engage with Illinois Right to Life Action’s candidate survey, Chicago City Wire reported. The questionnaire provides information on candidate beliefs, including their stance on abortion. The group notes it “spends months and hundreds of hours researching and surveying those who are running for office each election, and then rating them according to his/her pro-life stance.”

The draft judgment was leaked early this month, signaling the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision to legalize abortion would be overturned, according to the Wall Street Journal. When the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, authored by Samuel Alito, is decided, it is expected to be a 5-4 vote. States could then use criminal law to ban or regulate the activity.

In the last few years, abortion clinics in the state of Illinois have increased their capacity in anticipation of an influx of women seeking abortions, the Prairie State Wire reported. In recent years, Planned Parenthood has opened a slew of new abortion facilities along the border with Republican-controlled states. Abortion providers, according to the organization, forecast a quintuple increase in abortions.

As conservative states limit abortions through civil penalties, the number of abortions in Illinois has nearly doubled. Minor unattended abortions are anticipated to increase in the state, which is quickly becoming a favorite abortion destination, the Prairie State Wire reported.