Harris says she would support ending the filibuster to bring back 'Roe v. Wade'

Vice President Harris says she would support eliminating the filibuster in the U.S. Senate in order to bring back federal protections for a woman's right to an abortion as they existed under Roe v. Wade.

Harris outlined her position during an interview Monday with NPR member station Wisconsin Public Radio, saying that when it comes to the issue of abortion, she believes the Senate should do away with the filibuster rule that requires a 60-vote threshold for most legislation to pass.

"I've been very clear, I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do," Harris told WPR host Kate Archer Kent.

Harris' comments came as she works to sharpen the distinction between herself and former President Trump on one of the most pivotal issues facing voters in this year's presidential election. And while she has voiced support for ending the filibuster before — including on the issue of reproductive rights — it's a topic she has rarely addressed since President Biden's decision to abandon his reelection bid and endorse her instead.

Her message could carry particular weight in Wisconsin, a crucial battleground state where virtually no legal abortions were performed for nearly 15 months in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision in 2022 to strike down Roe.

Harris has blamed Trump for the fall of Roe, saying as recently as Friday that he is the "architect" of a health care crisis caused by the Supreme Court's decision in Roe — a law that Trump's three