In a move that was largely anticipated, the Supreme Court voted in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to strike down both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion. This ruling leaves the issue of abortion to the states rather than the federal government.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 26 states across the country are certain or likely to ban abortions, with states like Missouri and Kentucky already fully banning the procedure following the release of the decision.

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Here in Massachusetts, where abortion is protected thanks to the ROE Act, local leaders have expressed their disapproval toward the Supreme Court’s ruling. One of these include Ayanna Pressley, Democratic representative for the state’s 7th Congressional District.

Pressley learned about the ruling during her daughter's 8th grade graduation. In an interview with GBH News, she said she was devastated to be “sending our daughter into a world where she has less rights than I do, or that I did.”

In a series of tweets, Sen. Ed Markey voiced his disapproval, citing concerns regarding the future of women’s health in the United States and the unprecedented nature of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in a press release shortly after the ruling, not only expressed her disdain toward the court, but promised to fight back against the ruling.

“These extremists will not have the final word. Democrats have tools to fight back, from legislation in Congress to executive orders from the President to initiatives at the state and local level – we just need to use them. We are angry – angry and determined. We will not go back. Not now. Not ever,” according to the press release.

Pressley, who chairs the House of Representative’s Abortion Rights and Access task force, said the decision creates a public health emergency, and promised to continue fighting for people’s right to access reproductive health.

“I don’t even have the space for skepticism or cynicism,” she said. “This is a public health emergency, it is a matter of life and death. We need to engage every level of government to engage every tool available, and then we have to keep fighting to affirm healthcare as a fundamental human right and abortion care is health care.”

In Massachsetts, access to abortions is protected and will be unaffected, with Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Attorney General Maura Healey promising to protect the right to abortion.