Here’s what Kansas City area elected officials say about a potential overturn of Roe v. Wade

Abortions may soon be banned in Missouri and across many other states if the Supreme Court decides to overturn Roe v. Wade, as indicated by a draft decision leaked and published Monday night.

How did elected officials around Kansas City react to the potential of a Roe v. Wade reversal?

"I am sad and I am concerned. Americans have long had faith in the third branch. It has now been shaken by leaks and an even more troubling divorce from precedent and rights" Mayor Quinton Lucas tweeted.

The Roe v. Wade decision protected the right to an abortion nationwide in 1973, but overturning the decision will put the power to criminalize abortions in the hands of individual states.

Missouri is one of 23 states where abortion will likely be banned as soon as the final decision is made. Missouri passed a "trigger" law in 2019 that could automatically ban abortion if Roe was ever overturned.

WHAT DO MISSOURI OFFICIALS WHO REPRESENT KANSAS CITY HAVE TO SAY?

"If the Supreme Court ultimately makes the outrageous decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, setting women's rights back nearly five decades, America will soon be less free, less safe, and extraordinarily more divided than at any point since Roe was first decided," tweeted Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who represents Missouri's 5th district including Kansas City.

"To be clear - the GOP senators decrying that we're not doing enough to protect girl athletes are now cheering a judicial decision that says those same girls can't get an abortion if they're raped," tweeted Democratic state Sen. Lauren Arthur, who represents the Clay county area.

While some officials were deep disheartened by the news of the draft decision, others found it encouraging.

"I'm encouraged by the draft opinion & it's consistent with the briefs we've submitted to the Court calling for Roe v Wade to be overturned. If Roe is overturned I'm prepared to immediately issue the opinion protecting the unborn in Missouri," Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt tweeted.

"I will say, if this is the Court's opinion, it's a heck of an opinion. Voluminously researched, tightly argued, and morally powerful," tweeted Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley.

Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt did not weigh in on social media, but those campaigning to replace him in this year's midterm election on Aug. 2 did, including Schmitt as mentioned above.

Senate candidate and Republican Rep. Vicky Hartzler tweeted that she will "pray & remain hopeful #SCOTUS stays true to this potential decision."

Embattled former governor and Republican candidate Eric Greitens tweeted a statement saying, "Life is precious and worthy of protection—especially the unborn who are most vulnerable."

Missouri Republican Rep. Billy Long tweeted that overturning Roe v. Wade "paves the way to saving millions of lives of children who can't speak for themselves."

Democratic senate contenders Lucas Kunce and Trudy Busch Valentine weighed in opposing the draft decision.

Kunce tweeted that it is "fundamentally necessary that the U.S. Congress codify Roe v. Wade immediately."

And Busch Valentine called the potential Roe v. Wade reversal "a damn shame," and tweeted, "Everyone should have the right to make their own health care decisions."

WHAT ABOUT KANSAS OFFICIALS REPRESENTING THE KC AREA?

Kansas was already gearing up for an Aug. 2 vote that will decide whether the state constitution protects the right an abortion. The potential reversal of Roe v. Wade only raises those stakes.

In response to the draft decision, some Kansas state representatives are calling for voters to vote against the amendment, in order to protect abortion rights at the state level.

"And make no mistake, Kansas Republicans are absolutely going to go after a full abortion ban if Value them Both passes #ksleg," tweeted Democratic state Rep. Rui Xi, who represents Kansas' 25th House district including Johnson County.

"KANSAS, vote NO on the abortion ballot initiative! Banning abortions does not stop abortions. The poor and us colored folks will suffer. I'm furious. #RoeVWade #ksleg," Democratic state Rep. Christina Haswood, who represents the Lawrence area, tweeted.

Congresswoman Sharice Davids, who represents the state's 3rd district including areas of the KC metro, called the draft decision a "monumental step backwards."

The court's official decision is not set to be announced until June this year.