Incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer (D) faced Republican challenger Carly Fiorina in a debate yesterday where they addressed many feminist issues. Regarding abortion, Boxer said, “If my opponent’s views prevailed, women and doctors would be criminals, they would go to jail. Women would die, like they did before Roe v. Wade,” reported the Los Angeles Times. Fiorina tried to redirect the debate to the economy and said “the most important issue right now in this election is the creation of jobs,” after she reiterated her support for overturning Roe v. Wade. Regarding same-sex marriage, Boxer said, “The only way to get the rights that married couples have is to go for marriage equality…I’m glad to say I believe people are coming around to see it.” Fiorina expressed opposition to same-sex marriages and said she favors civil unions. Both candidates support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Carly Fiorina won the primary for the Republican ticket in June after defeating opponents former Congressman Tom Campbell and State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore. The former Hewlett-Packard CEO is a strict conservative and opponent to abortion and gay rights. She is also a former spokeswoman for John McCain’s 2008 campaign. Senator Boxer has served for 17 years in the US Senate and currently chairs the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women’s Issues. Boxer is also a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. She has fought for a wide array of women’s rights ranging from reversing the global gag rule, which President Barack Obama repealed during the first days of his presidency, to championing the Afghan Women Empowerment Act.
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