Survey of Gubernatorial campaign websites, 2001-2009: on Abortion


Bob McDonnell: Pro-life; anti-partial-birth; pro-parental-notification

Bob McDonnell is pro-life. As Attorney General, Bob supported numerous bills to protect the unborn and defended the Commonwealth's ban on late-term partial birth abortion.

As a legislator, Bob McDonnell helped lead the effort to ban late-term partial birth abortion (House Bills 2513 & 1541, 2003), fought to successfully enact parental notification and informed consent (Chief Patron, House Bill 1110, 1992; HB 2570, 2001), and encourage adoption

Source: 2009 VA Gubernatorial campaign site, bobmcdonnell.com Jul 21, 2009

Chris Christie: Pro-life; the life of every human being is precious

I am pro-life. Hearing the strong heartbeat of my unborn daughter 14 years ago at 13 weeks gestation had a profound effect on me and my beliefs. The life of every human being is precious. We must work to reduce abortions in New Jersey through laws such as parental notification, a 24-hour waiting period and a ban on partial-birth abortion.
Source: 2009 Gubernatorial campaign website, christiefornj.com Jul 21, 2009

Bill Ritter: Personally opposes abortion but fund emergency contraception

Based on my faith, I am personally opposed to abortion. But I recognize that people who disagree with me on this issue hold equally strong convictions. We all would like to see fewer women facing an unintended pregnancy. To reach this common ground, we must: Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, ritterforgovernor.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Jennifer Granholm: Vetoed ban on partial birth abortion

Governor Granholm has vetoed two bills that would have restricted the right to choose. The first bill attempted to ban what promoters refer to as “partial birth abortion.” The second attempted to ban “judge shopping” by juveniles seeking consent for an abortion via judicial bypass.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website, granholmforgov.com Nov 7, 2006

Jim Doyle: Stem cell research holds promise for debilitating diseases

Doyle returned to the stem cell issue, unveiling a TV ad with actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson’s disease. The ad suggests that the Doyle campaign sees the stem cell issue as a powerful way to woo undecided voters. Stem cell research is seen as holding the promise to cure or lead to treatments for a host of debilitating diseases. In the ad, Fox says Doyle “knows the promise (the research) holds & the jobs it can create,” while saying Green “has stood in the way of embryonic stem cell research.”
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website doylelawton.com “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

John Lynch: Access to emergency contraception without a prescription

Gov. Lynch signed a law that gives New Hampshire women access to emergency contraception without a prescription.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website johnlynch06.com “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Mike Rounds: Abortion is wrong; reconsider Roe v. Wade

On Referred Law #6 HB 1215 Anti-Abortion “Personally, I will vote YES to implement this law because I believe abortion is wrong. This law needs to pass so that Roe v. Wade can be reconsidered by the United States Supreme Court. We’ve had 33 years of more information and more advances in medicine. It’s time to reconsider this interpretation of the Constitution, just like the court has done before on other very important issues.”
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, roundsforgov.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Sarah Palin: Pro-life

I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman. I am opposed to any expansion of gambling in Alaska.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial website, palinforgovernor.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Christy Mihos: Supports woman’s right to choose, with minor notification

Christy supports a woman’s right to choose. Christy also believes in the rights of parents to be notified in cases when their children-under the age of 18-seek abortion.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website, www.christy2006.com Jul 16, 2006

Chris Gabrieli: Massachusetts needs to invest in stem cell research

The Bush Administration has not fully embraced stem cell research. With all of our exceptional research centers, there is no excuse for Massachusetts not to be the leader in this field. Massachusetts must implement policies that will cement our status as the center of biotechnology research in the US. Chris is committed to making Massachusetts a leader in stem cell research and other life sciences, and continuing our tradition of leadership on medical research and cutting edge technology.
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website, gabrieli.org, “issues” Jun 4, 2006

Haley Barbour: Protect the rights of the unborn

[I support] Protecting the rights of the unborn. I am pro-life. I have been a national spokesman on this issue and will continue to be an advocate for policies which promote the sanctity of human life
Source: 2006 Gubernatorial campaign website, haleybarbour.com Jan 28, 2006

Tim Kaine: Promote abstinence; ban partial-birth abortion

I will reduce abortion in Virginia by enforcing current Virginia restrictions, passing an enforceable ban on partial-birth abortion, ensuring women’s access to health care (including legal contraception), and promoting abstinence-focused education and adoption. We should reduce abortion in this manner, rather than by criminalizing women and doctors.
Source: 2005 Gubernatorial campaign website kaine2005.org, “Issues” Nov 8, 2005

Tim Kaine: I have a faith-based opposition to abortion

I have a faith-based opposition to abortion. As governor, I will work in good faith to reduce abortions by:
  1. Enforcing the current Virginia restrictions on abortion and passing an enforceable ban on partial birth abortion that protects the life and health of the mother;
  2. Fighting teen pregnancy through abstinence-focused education;
  3. Ensuring women’s access to health care (including legal contraception) and economic opportunity; and
  4. Promoting adoption as an alternative for women facing unwanted pregnancies.
Too often politicians are interested in scoring political points, rather than in reducing the number of abortions. Many of the legislative proposals introduced in the General Assembly, like the ones to require unnecessary building standards for doctor’s offices that perform abortions, are just political grandstanding. They encourage division and lawsuits rather than contributing to the goal of reducing abortions.
Source: 2005 Gubernatorial campaign website kaine2005.org, “Issues” Nov 8, 2005

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Supports current family planning programs

I support a woman’s right to choose. I support the state’s current family planning programs, and as governor, would make no changes to this policy.
Source: 2003 Gubernatorial campaign website, JoinArnold.com Aug 29, 2003

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Opposes partial birth abortion

I do not support partial birth abortion. I am in favor of parental notification, but I believe there must be a mechanism available where an individual can seek counsel from an outside entity, perhaps the courts.
Source: 2003 Gubernatorial campaign website, JoinArnold.com Aug 29, 2003

Arianna Huffington: Strongly pro-choice; woman’s right to choose

On Abortion Rights: Arianna is strongly pro-choice. She believes that it is a woman’s right to choose whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term.
Source: 2003 Gubernatorial campaign website, AriannaForGov.com Aug 15, 2003

Dave Freudenthal: Protect a woman’s right to choose

As governor, Freudenthal will support a woman’s right to choose.
Source: 2002 Gubernatorial campaign website, GovDave.com “Brochure” Oct 18, 2002

Mike Rounds: Protect life under all circumstances; no embryo research

Some have raised questions regarding the appropriateness of abortion under certain circumstances: rape, incest, to preserve the life of the mother. To these questions I can only respond that taking the life of an innocent child is not the solution. Likewise, many will raise the issue of using human embryos for medical research. Another phrase for human embryo is human person, and again I must say that taking the life of a child is not the solution.
Source: 2002 Gubernatorial site, RoundsForGov.com, “Pro Life” Oct 17, 2002

Dick Posthumus: Protect life; abortion only to save mother’s life

Dick Posthumus believes that life begins at conception. This belief has guided him throughout his career in public service and he has fought to protect the right to life; the life of the born, unborn, the disabled, and the dying. In the event that a pregnant woman’s life is in jeopardy, Dick Posthumus supports her ability to terminate her pregnancy in order to save her own life.
Source: 2002 Gubernatorial campaign website, DickPosthumus.com, Oct 14, 2002

Linda Lingle: Oppose partial-birth abortion; support parental notification

I support a woman’s right to choose. However, I oppose partial-birth abortions. I also support requiring parental notification. In addition, I believe we must work to ensure there are no more unwanted children - through education, prevention, and adoption.
Source: 2002 Gubernatorial campaign website, LindaLingle.com Oct 10, 2002

Tim Shallenburger: Protect life, both born and unborn

I firmly believe in and will continue to work to protect the sanctity of all human life in Kansas, both born and unborn. Therefore, as we seek protection in our constitution and from our Creator, let us protect life, not just convenient planned life, not just healthy life, not just life during the third trimester, but all life.
Source: 2002 Gubernatorial website TimShallenburger.com, “Issues” Oct 10, 2002

Roger Moe: No new restrictions: defend the right to choose

As Governor, Moe will vigorously defend a woman’s right to choose. He will veto so-called “right to know” and “24-hour waiting period” legislation. Moe will support funding for family planning and teen pregnancy prevention services, as well as health care prevention measures such as cancer screenings, and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Roger Moe will not flip flop or play politics with this important issue.
Source: 2002 Gubernatorial campaign website, MoeForMN.com, “Issues” Oct 9, 2002

Shannon O'Brien: History of protecting women’s right to choose

O’Brien, as a state legislator, had a strong pro-choice voting record in both the House and Senate. She voted to protect the accessibility of abortion services for all women; helped ensure passage of the Clinic Access Bill; supported efforts to create buffer zones around abortion clinics; and co-sponsored legislation to create funding for abortion counseling for victims of rape and incest.
Source: 2002 Gubernatorial website, ObrienGabrieli.com “Choice” Sep 17, 2002

  • The above quotations are from Survey of Gubernatorial campaign websites, 2001-2009.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Linda Lingle on Abortion.
  • Click here for more quotes by Jim Douglas on Abortion.
Candidates and political leaders on Abortion:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R)
Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)
Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018