Across the country in key swing states, Republican gubernatorial candidates strongly support the Texas abortion ban, which outlaws the practice after six weeks – before most women know they are pregnant.
In states like Virginia, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia, extreme anti-choice candidates running to be governor have praised the Republicans who pushed through this legislation and if elected, all have promised to pass their own anti-choice bills.
Here is what Republican gubernatorial candidates have to say about the Texas law and their plans to sign anti-abortion legislation:
- In Virginia, despite claiming to be opposed to a Texas-style abortion ban, behind closed doors, Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin was caught on camera promising to ban abortion and defund Planned Parenthood as governor.
- In Michigan, Republican James Craig was caught on a secret recording saying that as governor he will prevent Democrats from repealing a 90-year-old dormant unconstitutional complete ban on abortion even if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
- In Nevada, soon after his campaign announcement, failed former Republican U.S. Sen. Dean Heller told reporters he would limit abortion to six weeks and wanted “the most conservative [anti-choice] laws enacted in the state of Nevada.”
- In Wisconsin, former GOP Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who announced her bid for governor this month, said if elected, she “will sign a heartbeat bill” – effectively banning abortion after 5-6 weeks.
- In Arizona, gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake tweeted her support for Texas’s abortion ban, saying she “would sign this bill in a heartbeat.” Another Republican primary candidate, Matt Salmon, promised to sign anti-abortion legislation if elected, saying “I love it” when asked about the law passed in Texas.
- In Georgia, Republican Governor Brian Kemp has already signed legislation banning abortion after six weeks. Although a federal court judge ruled the bill unconstitutional, the Supreme Court’s decision in Texas could lead to new anti-abortion legislation.
With polls showing voters across the spectrum strongly opposed to the Texas abortion ban, the embrace of this politically toxic attack on reproductive freedom will come back to haunt Republican gubernatorial candidates in 2022.
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Published: Sep 24, 2021 | Last Modified: Feb 7, 2024