Just under two years ago, House Republicans were popping champagne at the Dobbs decision, which struck down Roe v. Wade, and the loss of reproductive freedom across America. Now, those same candidates are facing the stark reality that their extreme anti-choice agenda is giving voters even more reason to vote against them.
See what Republicans in some of the most competitive districts said about Roe and other work they’ve done to ban abortion access:
Arizona
- AZ-1 Rep. David Schweikert: Schweikert was “pleased” about the overturning of Roe and is a six-time co-sponsor of the “Life at Conception Act” – a nationwide abortion ban that threatens access to IVF.
- AZ-2 Rep. Juan Ciscomani: Applauded the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and ran away from a voter in 2022 when asked where he stood on the issue. He was also involved in the appointment of five anti-abortion judges to the Arizona Supreme Court.
Colorado
- CO-8 presumptive GOP nominee Gabe Evans: Supported the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and filled out a voter guide where he said he opposed abortion even in cases of rape and incest.
California
- CA-13 Rep. John Duarte: Suggested he opposed abortion after roughly 12 weeks. Duarte also voted to stop women from receiving safe and legal medication abortion through the mail or at pharmacies.
- CA-22 Rep. David Valadao: Signed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Valadao also co-sponsored the “Life at Conception Act,” putting Californians’ access to abortion and IVF at risk.
- CA-27 Rep. Mike Garcia: On top of supporting the overturning of Roe, Garcia previously signed on to an amicus brief to the Supreme Court asking it to overturn nearly 50 years of precedent, and twice co-sponsored the “Life at Conception Act.”
- CA-41 Rep. Ken Calvert: Calvert signed on to an amicus brief to the Supreme Court asking justices to overturn Roe v. Wade. He also has an A+ record from the anti-abortion group, Susan B. Anthony’s List.
Maine
- ME-2 GOP nominee Austin Theriault: Theriault celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade and answered “yes” on a questionnaire that asked if abortion access should be restricted. As a state representative, he voted against a bill to explicitly enshrine abortion access into the state Constitution and skipped important votes about abortion access, instead posting pictures of pancakes.
Michigan
- MI-4 Rep. Bill Huizenga: Huizenga is a seven-time co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act (2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2011), who also signed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. He then called the court’s decision to overturn it “amazing” and said anti-abortion advocates had to be “vigilant.”
- MI-7 presumptive GOP nominee Tom Barrett: Not only did Barrett celebrate Roe v. Wade being overturned, but he also sent fundraising flyers during his 2022 campaign calling himself “100% PRO-LIFE – NO EXCEPTIONS” and reaffirmed that he didn’t support exceptions for rape or incest. He even had the audacity to claim abortion would not be a top issue in 2024 because “my opponent is not a woman.”
- MI-8 candidate Paul Junge: Before saying he supported the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Junge told 2022 Republican primary voters that Roe v. Wade gave women “made up rights.”
Minnesota
- MN-2 candidate Joe Teirab: Teirab not only supported the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, he also called himself “pro-life” and touted the fact that he was on the board of a “crisis pregnancy center.” His opponent, Tayler Rahm, supported the Dobbs decision, seemed to dismiss abortion as an important issue, and said Republicans needed to go on “offense” on the issue of abortion.
Montana
- MT-1 Rep. Ryan Zinke: Zinke applauded the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and supported restricting access to abortion after approximately 12 weeks.
Nebraska
- NE-2 Rep. Don Bacon: After co-sponsoring the Life at Conception Act twice, Bacon celebrated the overturning of Roe, which he urged SCOTUS to do. Bacon also asked the Supreme Court to allow states to ban hospitals from providing emergency abortions.
New Mexico
- NM-2 Rep. Yvette Herrell: Beyond saying she wishes she could have “eliminated all abortion” in New Mexico, Herrell removed mentions from her website that she believes life begins at conception, co-sponsored the “Life at Conception Act,” and co-sponsored the “Heartbeat Protection Act,” which would criminalize doctors for performing abortions after a fetal heartbeat was detected.
New York
- NY-4 Rep. Anthony D’Esposito: D’Esposito appeared dismissive of how the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade would affect women around the country and opposed New York’s law, which protects abortion access in the state.
- NY-17 Rep. Mike Lawler: Called himself “personally pro-life” and opposed New York’s law, which protects abortion access in the state. He also spoke at a fundraiser for a “crisis pregnancy center” and a local right-to-life group’s gala.
- NY-19 Rep. Marc Molinaro: Molinaro has said he personally supports limiting access to abortion after 17 weeks.
- NY-22 Rep. Brandon Williams: Williams deleted his tweet calling the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade a “monumental victory” and “historic day.”
Ohio
- OH-9 candidate Derek Merrin: In the Ohio House of Representatives, Merin cosponsored legislation that would classify abortion as murder and completely ban the medical procedure.
- OH-13 candidate Kevin Coughlin: Coughlin touted that he “either co-sponsored or voted for every allowable Roe v. Wade state restriction,” co-sponsored a bill that opposed any federal effort to protect abortion access, and is proudly associated with the author of Ohio’s six-week abortion ban that made no exceptions for rape or incest.
Oregon
- OR-5 Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer: In addition to saying the Supreme Court decision that struck down Roe was a step in the right direction, Chavez-DeRemer expressed support for a six-week abortion ban.
Pennsylvania
- PA-10 Rep. Scott Perry: In addition to celebrating the overturning of Roe, Perry supported the Life at Conception Act (2023, 2021, 2019, 2018) and flip-flopped on supporting a national abortion ban.
Virginia
- VA-2 Rep. Jen Kiggans: Kiggans posted on her campaign website that she would “focus on passing pro-life legislation” if elected to Congress, then praised the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade. Months later, she deleted the anti-abortion language from her campaign website.
- VA-7 GOP nominee Derrick Anderson: Anderson said his “pro-life” views would influence his policy decisions and he applauded the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
- VA-10 GOP nominee Mike Clancy: Clancy described himself as an “advocate for life”, bragged about supporting “crisis pregnancy centers,” and touted his endorsement from failed congressional candidate Yesli Vega, who faced criticism for her comments about rape and abortion.
Washington
- WA-3 presumptive GOP nominee Joe Kent: When he isn’t being caught comparing abortion to slavery, Kent is busy scrubbing mentions of abortion from his website or flip-flopping on his support of a national abortion ban.
Wisconsin
- WI-3 Rep. Derrick Van Orden: Van Orden celebrated the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. While campaigning in 2022, Van Orden said he opposed abortion even in the cases of rape and incest and then doubled down on his anti-abortion stance to support a 15-week ban.
Published: Jun 23, 2024 | Last Modified: Jun 24, 2024