Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites: on Abortion


Leah Vukmir: 100% pro-life

I am 100% pro-life and believe that life needs to be defended at every stage. I am proud to have the support of Wisconsin Right to Life and Pro Life Wisconsin.
Source: 2014 Wisconsin State Senate campaign website LeahVukmir.com Nov 1, 2014

Joyce Dickerson: Women should have the right to family planning

She believes that women should have the right to family planning. It is intrusive for political advocate groups to fight against a woman's right to choose.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, JoyceDickersonSC.com Oct 9, 2014

John Buckley: Pro-life Libertarian, because life begins at conception

I'm a pro-life Libertarian. Let me explain.

As a Libertarian, I believe that the role of government is to protect our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that government is not the grantor of our rights, but rather is to be the protector of rights and liberties with which we are endowed by our Creator.

Thus, where our actions infringe on the rights of another person, government has a proper role to mediate the dispute and to protect the oppressed.

Consistent with the above principles, I believe the issue of abortion turns on one fundamental inquiry: when does human life begin? I find that the answer to this question has been established beyond reasonable dispute. Basic biology demonstrates that an individual human being is created at the moment of conception. Therefore, the act of abortion is the taking of the life of another human being.

Source: 2014 West Virginia Senate campaign website JohnBuckley.org Aug 31, 2014

Randall Batson: Focus on alternatives such as adoption & foster children

Some families that cannot have children will go to great lengths to do so. Within society there are alternatives, such as adoption and the fostering of children. A voluntary kindred spirit to aid people with social or economic needs is more compassionate. These alternatives to abortion are better than a policy of aggression.
Source: 2014 Kansas Senate campaign website batson4senate.weebly.com Aug 31, 2014

Gordon Howie: Leader for life both in and out of the political arena

Gordon doesn't just SAY he is Pro Life, he LIVES it!Gordon has been an outspoken leader for life both in and out of the political arena. There has never been a pro-life, pro-family bill he has not supported.
Source: 2014 S.D. Senate campaign website, GordonHowieForSenate.com Aug 23, 2014

Sean Haugh: No role for government in regulating abortion

In the first ever US Senate Libertarian candidates forum, Haugh outlined several areas where his views contrasted with those of his opponent, Tim D'Annunzio, including: Source: 2014 North Carolina Senate campaign website, SeanHaugh.com Jul 2, 2014

Nels Mitchell: Support woman's right to make her own health decisions

I support fairness and equality in the workplace, and I support a woman's right to make her own health care decisions. I also support the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Jim Risch voted against reauthorization of VAWA. I would have voted for it.
Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com Jul 1, 2014

Brad Hutto: Empower women to make reproductive health decisions

Women's Health: Government should not dictate health decisions for women in this country. Brad believes women should be empowered to consult with their families, healthcare providers, and religious advisors to make reproductive health decisions. Women do not need Washington politicians like Lindsey Graham telling them what to do.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, BradHutto.com Jun 25, 2014

Connie Johnson: Don't incarcerate women for biological functions with ova

Connie finds troubling recent legislative efforts that focus solely on the female's role in the reproductive process. Sen. Johnson's action in 2012 to amend the so-called "Personhood" bill-- SB 1433, authored by State Sen. Brian Crain (R-Tulsa)-- represents the culmination of hers and many Oklahomans' frustration regarding the ridiculousness of our reproductive policy initiatives in Oklahoma.

Connie's amendment seeks to draw attention to the absurdity, duplicity and lack of balance inherent in the policies of this state surround reproductive health. Oklahoma already incarcerates more women than any other place in the world. Under the Personhood bill, a woman in Oklahoma would face additional criminal charges and potential incarceration for biological functions that produce or, in some cases, destroy eggs or embryos, such as a miscarriage. Connie's amendment sought to draw humorous attention to the hypocrisy and inconsistency of this proposal.

Source: 2014 Okla. Senate campaign website, cj4ok.com Jun 25, 2014

David Alameel: Always fight to protect Roe v. Wade

David Alameel believes in a woman's right to choose and that politicians or the government should not interfere in these deeply personal decisions that should be made by a woman, with her family, her doctor and her God.

That is why Dr. Alameel will always fight to protect Roe v. Wade, which the Supreme Court set as the law of the land decades ago, from Washington politicians who are seeking to undermine the basic rights and freedoms of millions of Texas women.

Source: 2014 Texas Senate campaign website May 15, 2014

Jeff Bell: Supports pre-birth personhood; and limitations on abortion

Abortion is one of the saddest facts of modern America: over 53 million since Roe v. Wade enabled abortion on demand in 1973. In NJ, the abortion rate is 26%.

Abortion is not only tragic on its own terms: it violates the founding principle of a right to life. The need to apply this self-evident truth to the unborn has become much more apparent in the last four decades because of discoveries in the field of DNA and advances in the technology of the sonogram.

Even the Supreme Court of 40 years ago in Roe acknowledged that if it were factually established that an unborn baby is a "person," pro-life legislation would have to be upheld by the courts. If elected I will support legislation recognizing the unborn as persons entitled to the right to life under the terms of the 14th amendment.

I will also vote in the Senate for legislation that seeks to reduce the number of abortions. Two examples are the ban on abortions after 20 weeks and the ban on abortions for the purpose of sex selection.

Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, Bell2014.com, "Issues" May 2, 2014

T.W. Shannon: Reliably supported pro-life legislation

Shannon has reliably supported pro-life legislation. He has participated in the Pro-Family Legislators Conference, sponsored by historian David Barton's WallBuilders organization.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.twshannon.com, "Meet T.W." Jan 29, 2014

Dan Sullivan: Notify parents when their kids have abortions

Protecting and defending the rights of parents: As Attorney General, Sullivan worked hard to defend the constitutionality of the State's Parental Notification Initiative Act which promotes the rights of and responsibilities parents to be notified about and be aware of major moral issues affecting their minor children, including those relating to possible abortions.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website Sullivan2014.com "Accomplish" Dec 5, 2013

Lee Bright: Protect our unborn children from abortion providers

Protecting the right for a child to live is one of the most basic functions of a society. If our nation fails in this aspect, then how can we expect to protect liberty and constitutional rights?

When it comes to protecting the lives of the unborn, there is no greater advocate in the South Carolina legislature than Lee Bright. Each year, Lee introduces legislation that protects our children from abortion providers. He has fought to block funding to Planned Parenthood abortion clinics on numerous occasions, sometimes shutting down the whole Senate in his effort to save the lives of children.

Lee believes that life begins at conception, and has introduced legislation such as the Personhood Act of South Carolina, which protects life at the earliest stages of a child's development. Other legislation Lee has introduced includes Life Beginning at Conception Act, Pregnant Women's Protection Act, Pain-Capable Child Protection Act and a host of many others throughout the years.

Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, BrightForSenate.com, "Issues" Nov 22, 2013

Shane Osborn: Adamantly protect the life of the unborn

Shane is adamantly pro-life because he believes that life begins at conception.

In the Senate, Shane will fight to promote policies that preserve the institution of marriage and protect the life of the unborn.

Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.shaneosborn.com, "Issues" Nov 15, 2013

Ben Sasse: Defend the sanctity of life

Life begins at conception and ends at natural death. We must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and defend the sanctity of life. Ben believes that we have made tremendous progress in the pro life movement, but that even one abortion is too many.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, SasseForNebraska.com, "Issues" Nov 14, 2013

Shenna Bellows: Leader in reproductive freedom

Shenna is a leader in women's rights and reproductive freedom. She has been recognized for her work to advance women's health and reproductive choice by awards from the University of Maine Women's Studies Department, Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, the American Association of University Women, the Frances Perkins Center and the Maine Democratic Party.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, BellowsForSenate.com, "About" Nov 14, 2013

Brian Schatz: Require offering emergency contraception for rape victims

Brian believes that women have a constitutionally protected right to make their own choices when it comes to their bodies, and that government, and especially politicians, do not have the right to dictate or limit their options.

In the Hawaii State House, Brian led the charge for over-the-counter emergency contraception. He sponsored legislation allowing access to emergency contraception without a doctor's prescription.

In 2003, Brian voted for legislation requiring hospitals to offer emergency contraception to sexual assault victims. No matter what the religious affiliation of the hospital, he believes that sexual assault victims deserve to know their options, and should not be forced to carry their rapist's child simply because they went to a hospital that objected to emergency contraception on religious grounds. Brian said, "Once you're the only hospital in the neighborhood, you have a responsibility to all members of the public and not just to your personal religious beliefs."

Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, BrianSchatz.com, "Issues" Nov 11, 2013

Pat McGeehan: Support the Life at Conception Act; all life is precious

As an Irish-Catholic, I have always believed that life is precious, and that a fundamental role of government is to protect life--all life.

As a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates I fought to protect life, and received a 100% rating from West Virginians for Life for my stance on pro-life issues. I fought to protect the unborn in the State Legislature and will do so in the U.S. Senate.

I will support legislation, a Life at Conception Act, establishing the principle that life begins at conception. I will also support any legislation that restricts tax-payer money to organizations such as Planned Parenthood, which perform or advocate abortions.

56 million unborn have fallen victim to abortion and it must be stopped today. As your U.S. Senator, there are many ways to protect the unborn, and I will fight for each and every one of them.

Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, McGeehan2014.com, "Issues" Nov 11, 2013

Sam Clovis: Life should be protected from conception

I believe life begins at conception and life should be protected from conception to natural, dignified death. There should be no exceptions for protecting life. However, the judicial system of the nation has protected certain options. In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court allowed that abortion was about privacy. If that is the case, then private funds should pay for whatever abortions take place. Not a single tax dollar should go to any organization or agency that supports the killing of the unborn.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, Iowans4SamClovis.com, "Issues" Nov 11, 2013

Cory Booker: Vigorously defend women's access to affordable birth control

My priorities for affordable, high-quality health care include:
Source: 2013-2014 New Jersey Senate campaign web CoryBooker.com Nov 3, 2013

Joe Carr: Promote adoption; 100% pro-life

I am 100% pro-life and my voting record reflects the same. As adoptive parents, my wife Ginny and I believe strongly in promoting adoption as well. I believe our self-evident rights, as enumerated in the Constitution, come from God--not from government, and that it's the governments' responsibility to protect our God-given rights. I believe those rights extend to the unborn.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.carrfortn.com, "Issues" Nov 1, 2013

Matt Bevin: We have a duty to protect unborn human life

Matt is pro-life and believes we have a duty to protect unborn human life. In the U.S. Senate, Matt will vote against any bill that contains federal funding or other material support for abortions. He also believes we must encourage a culture of life that makes adoption easier. Matt is the proud father of nine children, four of whom he and his wife adopted from Ethiopia. He has also been a long-time, significant supporter of orphanages around the world, investing both his dollars and his time.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, MattBevin.com, "Issues" Oct 25, 2013

Matthew Whitaker: Life begins at conception

As a father I understand the miracle of life. I believe that life begins at conception and will oppose all taxpayer funding for abortions. In the Senate, I will work vigorously to protect the unborn and stop any legislation that threatens the right to life.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, MattWhitaker.org, "Issues" Oct 20, 2013

Owen Hill: Fight for equal opportunity of all people--born and unborn

I am Pro-Life. After working for years to help provide opportunity to children, I have seen firsthand what kind of difference the next generation can make in a country.

We need to fight for the equal opportunity of all people--born and unborn--to have a fair shot & making a life for themselves. I introduced a bill in the Senate to affirm our Constitution and end all taxpayer funding going to abortionists.

I am honored to serve on the board of an innovative pro-life non-profit called Save the Storks.

Source: 2014 Senate campaign website owenhillforsenate.com, "Issues" Oct 9, 2013

Milton Wolf: I've dedicated my life to saving lives; all lives

I have dedicated my life to saving lives, all lives, and I will not stop now. I will not apologize for believing that life begins at conception. This is very personal to me. My wife & I make no secret of the fact that we were teenage parents and it was the biggest blessing of our lives. We didn't read a poll one day & decide to be pro-life; this is who we are. Our Pastor told me something once I will never forget. He said, "Your timing may not be perfect but God's always is." I believe that to be true.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website: "The American Idea" Oct 8, 2013

Joni Ernst: No taxpayer funding for abortion; protect the unborn

Protecting Innocent Life: Joni believes life begins at conception, that all innocent life is precious, and that we must cherish and protect the unborn. Joni opposes any taxpayer funding of abortion and has a record as a strong, proven defender of innocent life during her tenure in the state legislature.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, JoniForIowa.com, "Issues" Sep 9, 2013

David Perdue: Promote a culture that values life

There are principles I share with a majority of Georgians. I believe that we should promote a culture that values life and protects the innocent, especially the unborn. Being pro-life and believing in the sanctity of marriage are my deeply held personal convictions. I will not waver in defending them if I have the privilege of serving you in the U.S Senate.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, perduesenate.com, "Issues" Jul 25, 2013

Champ Edmunds: Protect the pre-born and all the vulnerable in our society

I am a family man and active in my church. I will fight to protect the most vulnerable in our society at all stages of life. This includes the pre-born, handicapped and seniors.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website www.champ2014.com, "Issues" Jun 6, 2013

Karen Handel: Planned Bullyhood: book exposes Planned Parenthood's tactics

Karen wrote the book Planned Bullyhood--the Truth Behind the Planned Parenthood Funding Battle. Karen, because of her pro-life beliefs, took the courageous step to stand up to the bully tactics of Planned Parenthood. She exposed the country's leading abortion provider as a liberal political machine willing to destroy anyone or any organization to advance its agenda and secure the continued flow of nearly $1.5 million a day in government funding to its coffers.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website www.karenhandel.com, "About" Jun 6, 2013

Chris McDaniel: Unborn children are children

The Center for Pregnancy Choices of South Central Mississippi hosted a luncheon to help bring awareness to Mississippi's Personhood Amendment. State Sen. McDaniel spoke at the event and called the Center for Pregnancy Choices a "godsend."

"They are amazing," he said. "They are on the front lines in the fight for life. They're out there letting people know there are other options aside from just aborting the child."

McDaniel said he favors the Personhood Amendment and anything else that promotes the pro-life message. "It's important to discuss it so everyone can understand it," he said. "I hope one day it leads to a culture that embraces life."

McDaniel said that millions of children have been aborted since the passage of Roe vs. Wade in 1973. "Unborn children are children," he said. "They're human beings and should be protected by law."

Amendment 26 would outlaw abortion, human cloning, embryo stem cell research, and other forms of "medical cannibalism."

Source: Mississippi 2014 Senate campaign website senatormcdaniel.com Jun 4, 2011

  • The above quotations are from Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Karen Handel on Abortion.
  • Click here for more quotes by Mead Treadwell 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 07, 2018