This week, Josh Hawley introduced a bill that would remove FDA approval for mifepristone, an abortion medication used by millions of American women that has had FDA approval for more than two-and-a-half decades. This legislation marks the latest attack from Senate Republicans on reproductive health care and women’s bodily autonomy. What is just as concerning is that Republican Senate candidates across the country have historically supported restricting access to abortion medications, making the prospect of their elections a genuine threat to reproductive freedom.
“For years, Senate Republicans have attacked women’s reproductive health care and abortion access instead of taking action to help the American people,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Gus Nathanson. “And the fact that current Republican Senate hopefuls have a long history of opposing mifepristone access further proves that reproductive rights are on the line this November.”
In the bill’s introductory press conference, Hawley cited a debunked study on the safety risks of mifepristone. Despite Missourians voting to protect abortion access in 2024, he continues to ignore the will of his constituents in favor of curbing reproductive freedom, which has been supported by Republican Senate candidates in Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.
Read more about the anti-abortion medication stances of Republican Senate candidates.
Alaska: Dan Sullivan signed onto a letter with 50 other Republican Senators that called on HHS and FDA to reconsider the approval of a generic version of mifepristone, citing that the medication was an “imminent hazard” and that it would undermine states’ rights and violate pro-life laws.
Georgia: In 2023, Buddy Carter decried the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold mifepristone’s FDA approval, claiming that the decision was part of the “abortion-on-demand” agenda and reinforced unsubstantiated claims that the medication endangers women. That same year, he led a letter to the FDA calling on the administration to restrict abortion pill access. In 2022, Carter introduced legislation that would codify pharmacists’ right to deny care to patients with abortion pill prescriptions.
In 2023, Mike Collins signed an amicus brief challenging access to mifepristone, which was also signed by Buddy Carter. He also publicly stated that he supports a ban on all abortions, even in the case of rape, incest, and pregnancies threatening the life of the mother. Moreover, he called for and later celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Derek Dooley sided with Trump on the issue of abortion, saying that it is an issue that needs to be left up to the states. Dooley also said that, as Senator, he would stay out of the issue entirely, leaving women vulnerable to attacks on their bodily autonomy.
Iowa: Ashley Hinson co-sponsored the SAVE Moms and Babies Act in 2021, which would prevent abortion medications from being dispensed remotely and prevent the FDA from approving new abortion drugs. Additionally, she signed both a Congressional brief calling on the Supreme Court to restrict mifepristone access and a letter to HHS and FDA calling for the review of mifepristone to be accelerated.
Maine: Susan Collins voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was the “key vote” in the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. She also just voted to confirm a Trump-appointed federal judge who supports restricting mifepristone.
Michigan: Mike Rogers twice co-sponsored legislation to suspend FDA approval to suspend FDA approval of mifepristone in 2003 and 2005. Then, in 2011, he voted to bar appropriation funding for mifepristone in the Agricultural Appropriations Bill.
Minnesota: Michele Tafoya declined to comment on her abortion position, leaving Minnesota women more exposed to assaults against their reproductive freedom. Moreover, Tafoya previously made an appearance in an advertisement for the anti-abortion group Minnesotans Citizens Concerned for Life.
New Hampshire: John E. Sununu’s opposition to mifepristone access has spanned decades. While in Congress, he voted to prevent the FDA from testing, developing, or approving drugs that chemically induce abortions like mifepristone. He then said he is against the availability and use of mifepristone in 2000. While running for Senate this year, he said he is not pro-choice.
North Carolina: Michael Whatley has been outspoken against abortion, commending the North Carolina General Assembly for overturning Roy Cooper’s veto of a 12-week abortion ban. He also supported the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it a “constitutional stance” on the “sanctity of life.” He also claimed that he was proud of Republican anti-choice activists for their role in the Supreme Court decision.
Ohio: Jon Husted signed onto a Senate letter calling for the FDA to restrict access to abortion pills. Additionally, Husted publicly declared his opposition to mifepristone and abortion pills in 2025, falsely saying that they were unsafe and that it was a “very important issue” for him.
Texas: As Attorney General, Ken Paxton filed lawsuits against an “extremist group” for sending mifepristone across state lines and against out-of-state providers for allegedly sending abortion pills to Texas. He also sued a California doctor and other providers for providing abortion pills to Texas residents. All of these lawsuits took place earlier this year.
John Cornyn voiced his public support for Josh Hawley’s legislation to ban mifepristone, saying on Twitter that he was “all in.”
Published: Mar 13, 2026