NEW AUDIO: Michigan Republican says he doesn’t support women’s autonomy over their own bodies

During an office hours event last Friday, Michigan state Rep. Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton) indicated that he does not support women making their own health care decisions, according to new audio.

During the event, which was held at Munising School Public Library in Munising, Mich., a Marquette resident asked Bohnak a question about reproductive health care.

When asked if he supports reproductive freedom and funding for abortion clinics, Bohnak made it clear in audio provided to Heartland Signal he does not approve of abortion procedures but that he does not mind clinics that provide preventative cancer screenings, contraception or sexual assault testing.

“No. If you’re talking about abortion, I’m not going to support an abortion clinic. Personally, I wouldn’t,” Bohnak said.

When asked to clarify that he doesn’t “support a woman’s autonomy over her own body,” Bohnak answered “I don’t.”

NEW AUDIO: Michigan State Rep. Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton) says he does not support women making their own health care decisions.

CONSTITUENT: “So you don’t support a woman’s autonomy over her own body?”

BOHNAK: “I don’t.” pic.twitter.com/CDhhS5d6jZ

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) June 23, 2025

Bohnak did not immediately respond to an email request to clarify if he supports Planned Parenthood clinics since they provide a multitude of health care services other than abortion.

Bohnak’s words come after the only Planned Parenthood clinic in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula closed in April, leaving a reproductive health care desert in his district.

The 71-year-old Bohnak was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives last November and took office in January. Bohnak previously worked as the chief meteorologist at the WLUC-TV station from 1988 until 2021, when he was fired for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Boknak has been described as “QAnon-adjacent” by The Independent, and he has expressed skepticism in climate change and the 2020 presidential election results during his short career in politics.