Ten days before the 2016 election, I was standing in a cinderblock room in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Cecile Richards and other leaders of prominent women’s groups, all of us out to make the case for Hillary Clinton’s historic run for President.

Richards was a major force in Texas and national politics. Like her mother, former governor Ann Richards, Cecile spent most of her life rallying for progressive causes. Richards was a labor organizer, a staffer to Representative Nancy Pelosi, and then president of Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018.

I am heartbroken by the passing of my friend and mentor Cecile Richards,” said HRC President Kelley Robinson. Robinson called Richards “a giant in the fight for freedom — an unwavering advocate for reproductive,

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Cecile Richards, a national leader for abortion access and women’s rights who led Planned Parenthood for 12 tumultuous years, has died. She was 67. Richards died Monday at home “surrounded by family and her ever-loyal dog, Ollie,” her family said in a statement.

Cecile Richards, a longtime reproductive rights and feminist activist and former president of Planned Parenthood, has died, her family announced Monday. She was 67. Richards was diagnosed in 2023 with a glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor.

Richards, the eldest daughter of Gov. Ann Richards, forged her own path as a tireless advocate for women across Texas and the United States.

Richards, the daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, spoke at the Democratic National Convention last year.

"Our hearts are broken today but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives," her family said in a post on social media.

The former Planned Parenthood president and lifelong champion of women’s rights passed away Monday from brain cancer.

What her famous mother did as Texas governor, Cecile carried on by standing up a range of progressive and pro-choice organizations.

Richards served as the head of Planned Parenthood for 12 years before stepping down in 2018. Richards is the daughter of late Texas Gov. Ann Richards (D) and is remembered as a tireless civil rights advocate.