In a newly-resurfaced clip, former congresswoman and current candidate Yvette Herrell (NM-02) told viewers of a 2020 candidate forum, “I wish we could have eliminated all abortion in this state.”
Herrell loudly supported the Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade and, as a member of Congress, she co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act in 2021 — which is a direct attack on reproductive health care, including IVF.
But this time, as Herrell runs for Congress, she’s cut all references to her anti-abortion policies from her website and campaign materials, and is now saying she will “continue to fully support” IVF.
Herrell isn’t the only Republican trying to outrun their anti-abortion rights record. With the Arizona legislature refusing to take up a repeal of the 1864 abortion ban, Reps. David Schweikert, Eli Crane, and Juan Ciscomani are reckoning with their efforts and support of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
- AZ-01: Rep. David Schweikert is having to explain why he called the ballot referendum to codify abortion access as a right in Arizona “extreme.”
- CA-27: Rep. Mike Garcia “said he didn’t like what happened on Jan. 6 — and neither do voters… [but Garcia] voted against certifying Mr. Biden’s win in two battleground states in the hours after the attack.”
- NY-22: Rep. Brandon Williams isn’t the first Republican — and certainly won’t be the last — taking credit for supporting local investments from federal legislation like the CHIPS Act despite previously opposing the bill. In Williams’ case, he called the CHIPS Act “corporate welfare.”
- PA-07: GOP primary candidate Maria Montero blamed increased prices on workers earning too much money right before she said the way to reduce gun violence is by bringing “God back into our lives.”
- WA-03: Failed 2022 candidate and likely 2024 GOP nominee, Joe Kent, is adding the Great Replacement Theory to the list of conspiracy theories he is trying to sell on the campaign trail.
- The fallout after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster from the speakership continues as the vindictive former speaker is targeting those who worked to oust him, like Eli Crane, with attack ads. The ad focuses on Crane’s refusal to vote for border security funding.
- Joe Kent was called out by his WA-03 primary opponent Leslie Lewallen for being too extreme to win, saying, in part, “He’s not getting the support of the voters. He was unable to get their support in 2022. And he’s losing momentum and he’s losing steam. His best shot was in 2022. He’s not gaining any ground at all….He just doesn’t represent the district at all.”
- PA-10 Rep. Scott Perry had some choice words for Mike Lawler (NY-27) after the New York congressman blasted Perry for not supporting the speaker.
It’s not just Yvette Herrell backtracking on her anti-abortion positions.
- AZ-01 Rep. David Schweikert scrubbed abortion mentions from his website despite touting his pro-life bonafides to his supporters from 2014-2020.
- IA-03 Rep. Zach Nunn is now telling people he supports exceptions for rape and incest, despite, as recently as 2022, supporting an abortion ban with zero exceptions.
- WA-03 presumptive nominee Joe Kent is now saying abortion should be left to the states, despite telling voters during his 2022 run he wanted a national abortion ban. Kent has also scrubbed abortion mentions from his website.
- MI-07 presumptive nominee Tom Barrett told voters in 2022 that he didn’t support exceptions for abortion in cases of rape or incest and that he would protect life from the moment of conception. Barrett pulled down mentions of abortion from his website in 2022 and hasn’t listed a position on his current 2024 website.
- VA-02 Representative Jen Kiggans scrubbed “passing pro-life legislation” from her website after Roe was overturned.
On the trail: It’s primary season (again)! There are a number of congressional races to be on the lookout for in Pennsylvania, including the 7th congressional district where locals are keeping an eye out if Kevin Dellicker can pull off the upset against Ryan Mackenzie.
In the House: Is Speaker Mike Johnson toast? The reports from the House floor of Johnson being cannibalized by his right-wing colleagues, who want him to backtrack from plans to make it harder to remove a speaker, show just how dire his situation is. Johnson, who used to pal around with the Marjorie Taylor Greenes of the GOP caucus, has pulled a 180 by supporting aid to Ukraine, a move he opposed when he was part of the rank-and-file.
HuffPost: GOP Congressional Hopeful Wished Her State Had ‘Eliminated All Abortion’ In 2020Arizona Republic: Rep. Eli Crane targeted by TV ads from group linked to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
The Daily Beast: GOP Lawmakers Are All-In on Trump—a Conviction Be Damned
CBS News: The Biden campaign is trying to keep Jan. 6 top of mind with voters. Will it work?
Published: Apr 19, 2024 | Last Modified: Apr 29, 2024