GOP Officials Urge Pharmacies to Reject New York's Push to Sell Abortion Pills

Seventeen Republican state financial officers are urging major U.S. pharmacies to reject New York officials' push to sell the abortion drug mifepristone, emphasizing that such a move would alienate customers and plunge the companies into divisive political activism. The letters, addressed to CEOs of Costco, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and McKesson, come as a response to calls from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who has urged these retailers to offer the drug widely used in over half of U.S. abortions.

In their letter to Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran, the GOP officials argued that selling mifepristone would be a poor business decision, driven more by political activism than consumer demand. “This radical position ignores all of the business decisions that go into whether to sell a particular product — decisions that should be made by Albertsons’ leadership based on how it will serve their customers,” the letter read. It also noted that Costco recently admitted there was no material demand for the drug, further undermining the need to stock it.

The push from Republican leaders comes after Lander, in July, warned that failing to offer mifepristone could hurt the retailers' standing with consumers. He highlighted that NYC pension funds hold approximately $1.3 billion in ownership in these companies, using the city's financial influence as leverage to push the pro-abortion agenda.

Here are key takeaways from the ongoing debate:

• Political pressure on pharmacies: Lander’s call to offer mifepristone has sparked pushback from conservative leaders who argue that pharmacies should focus on serving customers, not engaging in “divisive stances on contentious political issues.”

• Republican response: Financial officers from 17 states, including Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah, warn that companies risk alienating their customers by giving in to activist demands, arguing that pushing political issues harms businesses and weakens investor trust.

• Increased use of abortion pills: Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion pills like mifepristone have been used more frequently, particularly in red states with strict pro-life laws. The ease of online access has enabled activists to flood conservative states with abortion pills, bypassing local restrictions.

The financial officers emphasized the importance of pharmacies maintaining focus on their core purpose—delivering products and services, not taking divisive political positions. “We are calling on Albertsons to fulfill that purpose and to ignore activist efforts like the New York City Comptroller’s,” they wrote, underscoring the potential damage to investor standards and retirement beneficiaries if companies are dragged into political battles.

Conservative groups have also voiced opposition to the pharmacies selling abortion pills. Last month, Christian and conservative investors issued a similar call, urging the retailers to reject the left-wing push to offer mifepristone.

As abortion pills become a key battleground post-Roe, the issue highlights the broader clash between pro-life advocates and progressive officials using economic influence to promote abortion access. With Republican officials standing firm, the pressure is now on pharmacies to decide whether they will stick to business or wade into the political arena.

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