A trigger law banning abortions in Texas went into effect in August following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in late June. The law makes it a felony to perform an abortion in the state, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
Abbott has previously faced a backlash for suggesting rape victims can take Plan B- emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy.
The group behind the ad is Mothers Against Greg Abbott and is made up of Democrats, moderate Republicans and independents who share the goal of electing a new governor in the November 8 elections.
The group has already churned out several ads which are highly critical of Abbott and his conservative policies.
The latest video was posted on Twitter on Thursday and has so far been viewed more than 2 million times.
“Whose choice is this? Greg Abbott’s? This November 8th, it’s your choice. What do you choose? Texas Women or Texas GOP Extremists!,” the video’s caption read.
The video begins with a doctor examining an unseen expectant mother, explaining that her baby has a strong heartbeat. He then remarks that the baby’s development is currently on schedule and adds that as this is her first pregnancy she may want to take the free parenting classes available.
He also warned that a C-section may need to happen in the future and adding there may be long-term health issues that could occur but closed by saying “but for now our focus is baby and baby looks great.”
The doctor then leaves the room with a smile and the camera pans to a young girl looking confused with the text: “Greg Abbott Chose This” in bold letters next to her.
In an earlier interview with Newsweek, Nancy Thompson, the founder of Mothers Against Greg Abbott, said that she was worried about the rights of Texans currently protected under the 14th Amendment, including “women’s rights over their own bodies” and gay marriage, could be at risk.
Some conservative lawmakers are attempting to crack down on access to contraception, Thompson said, and others are apparently even flirting with the idea of school segregation.
“It’s terrifying,” Thompson told Newsweek. “What we’re seeing happening right now is just a small percentage of Americans, it’s not the majority. But the problem is the majority don’t vote.”
She argued that the Supreme Court seems intent on returning certain rights to the states. But in Texas, she said, it could mean that state lawmakers roll back the clock.
Mothers Against Greg Abbott intends to release more ads in the run-up to the November 8 election. In what the anti-Abbott group has dubbed a “Vote Abbott Out Advent Calendar.”
Newsweek has reached out to Greg Abbott and Mothers Against Greg Abbott for comment.