Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his support for a national 15-week abortion ban during last night’s GOP debate, displaying his commitment to the cause.
DeSantis joins a growing list of GOP presidential candidates who have made the same pledge, including former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. He made this announcement in response to Scott’s inquiry about his stance on the issue.
The Daily Signal was the first to confirm this decision (source).
All Republican candidates in the race consider themselves to be “pro-life” and have advocated for state-level abortion bans, although they differ in their opinions on federal policies.
DeSantis had previously refrained from stating his position on a national ban, despite signing a six-week abortion ban into Florida state law earlier this year. Current front-runner in the GOP race, former President Trump, has also sidestepped the issue, while it has been a major focus for Pence and Scott.
Meanwhile, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley have either expressed their lack of support for federal restrictions or deemed them politically unfeasible at present.
Pence stands alone in his commitment to back a six-week national abortion ban if elected.
In a recent campaign ad, Scott criticized his opponents for their weak stances on abortion, implying that they are not fully committed to protecting the unborn.
Abortion was a pivotal issue in the 2022 midterms, and some political analysts, including Trump, attribute Republicans’ anti-abortion stance to their lackluster performance in that election. However, DeSantis challenges Trump’s assertion.
During the second GOP debate, DeSantis argued, “I reject this idea that pro-lifers are to blame for midterm defeats. I think there are other reasons for that.”
He further addressed the former president’s absence from the debate, stating, “He should be here explaining his comments and trying to argue that pro-life protections are somehow a terrible thing.”
Ohio will feature an abortion-related ballot measure in 2023, while similar measures are expected to arise in Arizona and Maryland in 2024. Abortion rights activists celebrated victories in six states during the 2022 elections.
The Hill has contacted the DeSantis campaign for a comment on this matter.
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