After the court said Americans have the right to carry guns outside their home, Democrats passed new laws this year seeking to limit access to firearms, while gun rights supporters filed lawsuits challenging restrictions and Republicans passed laws expanding gun access. On abortion, an issue the court returned to the states, Republicans moved to severely restrict or ban access in several states, including Florida, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina and Wyoming, despite intraparty fights about how far to go. Democrats sought to strengthen abortion protections in many of their states. “I’ve been working my entire life to have an opportunity like this,” said Melissa Hortman, the speaker of the Minnesota House. But while she expressed no regrets about acting quickly, Ms. Brinks acknowledged that doing so “was not exactly the most beneficial in terms of establishing really good working relationships” with Republicans.

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Persons: “ I’ve, ”, Melissa Hortman, Winnie Brinks, Brinks, “ Organizations: Republicans, Minnesota House, Michigan Senate Locations: Florida , Nebraska, North Carolina , North Dakota, South Carolina, Wyoming, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota