2018 SC Governor's race: on Abortion


Catherine Templeton: Define personhood from conception; no exceptions for incest

Catherine Templeton has changed her position on a bill that would effectively ban all abortions in the state, saying she now supports the effort despite her earlier concerns it does not include an exception for victims of incest. Earlier in the campaign, Templeton had distinguished herself from the rest of the GOP field by saying she believes there should be an exception for incest. That stance earned a rebuke from the bill's supporters who excoriated the candidate for being insufficiently pro-life.

In a tele-town hall, a caller asked Templeton about her position on the Personhood bill. "I would support any law in South Carolina that would reduce the number of abortions," Templeton responded. A Templeton campaign spokesman confirmed the candidate has shifted her stance on the issue. "While campaigning, Catherine Templeton was asked to pray about her support for life and consider making no exceptions," the spokesman said. "It may not be the politically correct answer, but so be it."

Source: Post and Courier on 2018 South Carolina governor race Feb 27, 2018

Henry McMaster: Supports Personhood Bill, defining life from conception

The "Personhood Act" would define life as beginning at fertilization and extend constitutional protections to all unborn children, received a significant boost passing through the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

Earlier in the campaign, Catherine Templeton had distinguished herself from the rest of the GOP field by saying she believes there should be an exception for incest [but she has now switched to supporting the bill]. The board of Personhood South Carolina, an organization focused on promoting the abortion ban, said Templeton's view amounted to support for murdering unborn children based on the circumstances of their conception.

All four other Republicans in the governor's race have said they unequivocally oppose all abortions. One candidate, Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant, sponsored the Personhood Act when he was a state senator, and McMaster has vowed to sign it into law if it lands on his desk.

Source: Post and Courier on 2018 South Carolina governor race Feb 27, 2018

Kevin Bryant: Supports Personhood Bill, defining life from conception

The "Personhood Act" would define life as beginning at fertilization and extend constitutional protections to all unborn children, received a significant boost passing through the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

Earlier in the campaign, Catherine Templeton had distinguished herself from the rest of the GOP field by saying she believes there should be an exception for incest [but she has now switched to supporting the bill]. The board of Personhood South Carolina, an organization focused on promoting the abortion ban, said Templeton's view amounted to support for murdering unborn children based on the circumstances of their conception.

All four other Republicans in the governor's race have said they unequivocally oppose all abortions. One candidate, Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant, sponsored the Personhood Act when he was a state senator, and McMaster has vowed to sign it into law if it lands on his desk.

Source: Post and Courier on 2018 South Carolina governor race Feb 27, 2018

Henry McMaster: Budget shouldn't "contain a penny" for abortion providers

Gov. McMaster sent a letter to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control asking its board to "publicly reaffirm" its policy that keeps federal grant money from going to abortion providers.

"Health care services related to pregnancy care, fertility and cancer screenings may be offered in many ways, without state subsidization of abortion providers," he wrote.

The letter was followed by a Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant press conference in which Bryant challenged the Legislature to pass a budget that doesn't "contain a penny" for abortion providers. If next year's budget includes the funding, Bryant said he would not sign off on the state's spending plan. [Bryant does not have veto authority.]

When asked if his press conference was done to rev up the base before next year's primary elections, Bryant pointed to his previous work in the Senate against abortion. "I've been a pro-life activist my entire life and will continue to be," he said. "This is about defunding Planned Parenthood."

Source: The Post & Courier on 2018 South Carolina Gubernatorial race Jun 6, 2017

Kevin Bryant: Budget shouldn't "contain a penny" for abortion providers

Gov. Henry McMaster sent a letter to the SC Department of Health & Environmental Control asking its board to "publicly reaffirm" its policy that keeps federal grant money from going to abortion providers.

"Health care services related to pregnancy care, fertility and cancer screenings may be offered in many ways, without state subsidization of abortion providers," he wrote.

The letter came the day before a Bryant press conference in which Bryant challenged the Legislature to pass a budget that doesn't "contain a penny" for abortion providers. If next year's budget includes the funding, Bryant said he would not sign off on the state's spending plan. However, Bryant does not have veto authority.

When asked if his press conference was done to rev up the base before next year's primary elections, Bryant pointed to his previous work in the Senate against abortion. "I've been a pro-life activist my entire life and will continue to be," he said. "This is about defunding Planned Parenthood."

Source: The Post & Courier on 2018 South Carolina Gubernatorial race Jun 6, 2017

Yancey McGill: Opposes abortion, even as Democratic State Senator

McGill, the last Democrat to hold statewide office, said he switched parties last week after years of leaning toward pro-Republican stances on government spending and regulation as well as abortion.

"I have backed a lot of conservative issues over the years, and people have asked me why not consider joining the (Republican) party," said McGill, who spent 25 years representing a heavily Democratic district in Williamsburg and Georgetown counties.

Source: The State webzine on 2018 South Carolina Gubernatorial race Mar 21, 2017

  • The above quotations are from 2018 South Carolina Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Henry McMaster 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 11, 2018