The problem of abortion rights in america is staring the 2024 GOP presidential candidates of their eyes as they put together to kick their campaigns into excessive gear.
For the reason that Supreme Courtroom overturned the landmark case Roe v Wade (1973) final summer season, abortion has turn out to be a high concern for a lot of voters.
Although the anti-abortion stance has lengthy been related to the Republican Get together, roughly 61 per cent of adults within the US imagine abortion ought to be authorized in all or most instances, based on Pew Analysis Heart – that statistic contains Republican and Democratic voters.
As People look towards their subsequent Republican presidential nominee, little doubt many can be contemplating the place the candidate stands on abortion when figuring out who they help.
Here’s what every GOP presidential candidate has mentioned on the difficulty.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump has by no means taken a clear-cut stance on the difficulty of abortion.
The ex-president has repeatedly taken credit score for helping the Supreme Courtroom in overturning Roe v Wade by nominating three conservative justices to the courtroom.
Shortly after the choice was made in June 2022, Mr Trump declared it a “win” and claimed it was solely potential, “as a result of I delivered every thing as promised, together with nominating and getting three extremely revered and robust Constitutionalists confirmed to america Supreme Courtroom”.
He has continued to reiterate the declare on his social media platform Reality Social and in interviews.
“I used to be in a position to kill Roe v Wade… With out me the professional Life motion would have simply stored dropping.”
However Mr Trump has additionally criticised six-week bans – just like the “horrible” one his rival, governor Ron DeSantis, signed into the state.
The ex-president has warned the Republican Get together that supporting a six-week ban may sway potential voters in a normal election.
Ron DeSantis
The Florida governor opposes abortion.
Earlier this yr, he instructed Megyn Kelly he’s “proud to be pro-life” although he believes in exceptions within the instances of rape, incest or to avoid wasting a lady’s life.
Mr DeSantis has mirrored these views by means of Florida laws.
Final yr, he signed a 15-week abortion ban in his state after which earlier this yr, he quietly signed a extra restrictive six-week abortion ban which Mr DeSantis mentioned he was “proud” to signal throughout the first debate.
Nevertheless, it’s unclear if Mr DeSantis would help a federal abortion ban. When requested if he would throughout the debate, the Florida governor swerved round a direct reply saying he would “stand on the aspect of life.”
Mr DeSantis has beforehand criticised the federal authorities for shielding the proper to abortion saying it was an “abuse of energy.” He has additionally famous that every state has completely different preferences for abortion limitations.
Nikki Haley
Nikki Haley has taken a extra middle-of-the-road stance on abortion.
The previous South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador mentioned she is “unapologetically pro-life” however that abortion is “a really private concern”, in an interview with CBS in June.
Ms Haley has repeatedly referred to as for individuals to “cease demonizing” the difficulty of abortion.
Moderately than take an strategy on a federal ban, Ms Haley has as a substitute mentioned Congress ought to discover consensus amongst people who find themselves pro-choice and anti-abortion.
Throughout the first GOP debate, Ms Haley scolded former Vice President Mike Pence for not being trustworthy with People concerning the chance {that a} nationwide ban may very well be handed.
“In relation to a federal ban, let’s be trustworthy with the American individuals and say it would take 60 SEnate votes,” Ms Haley mentioned.
“So as a way to do this, let’s discover consensus. Can’t all of us agree that we should always ban late-term abortions? Can’t all of us agree that we should always encourage adoptions?
She added: “Can’t all of us agree that docs and nurses who don’t imagine in abortion shouldn’t need to carry out them? Can’t all of us agree that contraception ought to be out there? And might’t all of us agree that we’re not going to place a lady in jail or give her the loss of life penalty if she will get an abortion?”
Asa Hutchinson
Asa Hutchinson, the ex-governor of Arkansas, is anti-abortion however believes in exceptions to avoid wasting a mom’s life and in instances of rape or incest.
He instructed CNN in April that he would “actually” signal a federal pro-life invoice with these exceptions.
Although he says this, in 2021, Mr Hutchinson signed a set off invoice in Arkansas that made abortion unlawful besides to avoid wasting a lady’s life. It didn’t embody provisions in instances of rape or incest.
Tim Scott
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is self-proclaimed “strongly pro-life” and has made it clear he would signal a federal ban starting, on the very least, 15 weeks.
“When I’m president of america, I’ll signal essentially the most pro-life laws the Home and Senate can placed on my desk. We must always start with a 15-week nationwide restrict,” Mr Scott wrote in an op-ed for The Des Moines Register in June.
However Mr Scott has hinted that he’d be open to a extra restrictive federal ban.
The senator instructed NBC Information in April that he would “actually” signal “essentially the most conservative pro-life laws” that Congress may go. However when requested what the cutoff ought to be, Mr Scott mentioned, “I’m not going to speak about six or 5 or seven or 10.”
Chris Christie
Chris Christie has referred to as himself “pro-life” however his opinion on a federal ban has modified within the final eight years.
In 2015, Mr Christie vocalised help for a 20-week federal ban.
However in June, the ex-New Jersey governor instructed CNN that the difficulty of abortion ought to be left to the states solely.
”This ought to be decided by the 50 states. The problem of abortion will not be within the Structure. And the Structure says if it’s not explicitly mentioned right here, this energy reverts to the states,” Mr Christie mentioned.
”I might not be for the federal authorities being concerned within the concern of abortion in any means. I imagine the states ought to make the choices.”
Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur-turned-politician, mentioned he’s anti-abortion however doesn’t imagine in a federal ban.
“I’m personally pro-life,” Mr Ramaswamy mentioned on the All-In Podcast in July. “I might not help a federal abortion ban.”
Mr Ramaswamy has repeatedly said that he believes abortion is a state concern, not a federal one.
As a substitute, he has mentioned he would help the pro-life agenda by implementing laws that helps contraceptives, adoption, baby care and “sexual accountability for males.”
Doug Burgum
The North Dakota governor is anti-abortion however said he wouldn’t signal a federal ban.
“I help the Dobbs determination, and that is the choice that ought to be left to the states,” Doug Burgum instructed NBC in July
“What’s going to go in North Dakota will not be ever going to go in California and New York, and wouldn’t even go within the state of Minnesota. That’s why I’m on the document saying that I might not signal a federal abortion ban.”
In April, Mr Burgum signed a invoice banning abortions in North Dakota with slim exceptions in instances of rape or incest solely as much as six weeks of gestation.
Ryan Binkley
Ryan Binkley, a pastor and entrepreneur from Texas, is anti-abortion.
It’s unclear if Mr Binkley would help a federal abortion ban although one of many targets that he lists on his web site is to “defend the unborn”.
He wrote: “My coronary heart breaks for tons of of 1000’s of unborn kids who misplaced their lives to abortion final yr.”