Andrea Tirrell and Amanda Gavin are Ph.D. candidates in ecology and environmental sciences at the University of Maine, current and former volunteers at Bangor’s Mabel Wadsworth Center, and members of United Auto Workers Local 7650.

Reproductive justice is a framework developed by SisterSong, a women-of-color-led organization, as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.”

Maine has fought to improve access to reproductive healthcare, childcare and education, and now with the need for a new Democratic nominee for Senate, we have an opportunity to elect progressive candidate Troy Jackson, who will get us closer to the true meaning of reproductive justice.

Troy Jackson knows that there is no choice without access. Before Donald Trump came after abortion rights and access to contraceptives, Troy Jackson was on the offense and co-sponsored bills to ensure all health insurance in Maine covered contraceptives without cost. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, Jackson co-sponsored legislation that ensured Maine had some of the strongest reproductive laws in the country.

From standing on the picket line with nurses protesting the closure of rural obstetrics departments to sponsoring bills to support rural hospitals and attract more medical professionals to rural Maine, Troy has stood up for rural healthcare in Maine time and time again, as he would do for rural healthcare across the country as senator.

His commitment to reproductive justice was clear in a recent debate during Maine’s gubernatorial primary: when other gubernatorial candidates promised bipartisan budgets, Troy promised he would never compromise on reproductive rights. He openly declared that abortion is healthcare. His seven-year streak (2018-2024) of 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood shows a track record we can trust.

Beyond reproductive care, reproductive justice means we have the economic means to parent children in healthy communities. As Senate president, Troy Jackson co-sponsored a bill to ensure Maine was one of only two states in this country that provides universal free school meals, and he expanded access to childcare. When many younger folks are choosing not to have children because the costs are too high, Troy Jackson’s support for a universal childcare system is more important than ever.

All of our pressing issues are interconnected with reproductive justice. Gov. Janet Mills vetoed Jackson’s bill that would ban the aerial spraying of herbicides on Maine forests, which would have reduced our exposure to toxic chemicals. As a gubernatorial candidate, Jackson had put out the most aggressive plan to stand up to ICE and protect immigrant families.

As advocates of reproductive justice, the working class and the environment, we know that all of these issues are interconnected, and we know Troy is on the same page. Troy knows that everything from access to reproductive healthcare to the housing crisis affect working Americans daily and make it harder just to get by.

On the other hand, Nirav Shah, who has also thrown his hat in the ring to become the Democratic nominee, has come out in opposition to rent control and supported not requiring landlords to take Section 8 housing vouchers. Policies like this are hostile to working families, put children in precarious living situations, exacerbate our homeless crisis and undermine reproductive justice.

Mainers need to send someone to the U.S. Senate who will stand up for working families, women, children and all the other vulnerable communities at risk due to the current administration. Troy Jackson has consistently proven he will fight for us in Maine and he will fight for us in the U.S. Senate.