The Associated Press: on Abortion


Bill de Blasio: Crucial to protect women's right to choose in 2019

New York lawmakers have passed one of the nation's strongest protections for abortion rights, saying the women of New York need legal safeguards if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. The Democrat-led Senate and Assembly passed the bill on the 46th anniversary of the Roe decision. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was expected to quickly sign it into law.

The bill was first introduced back in 2007 and removes abortion from the state criminal code and ensures women the right to an abortion in New York should that federal right ever be changed by the Supreme Court. For years, the law would pass the Assembly but fail in the Republican-controlled Senate. That all changed last fall when voters put Democrats firmly in charge in Albany.

"I support this act. It's crucial that we protect a woman's right to choose, particularly at this moment in history, when women's rights are under attack," NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Source: Associated Press on ABC7NY on 2020 Democratic primary Jan 22, 2019

Brian Kemp: Signed fetal heartbeat bill, tax deductions for fetuses

Kemp signed legislation banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. That can be as early as six weeks, before many women know they're pregnant. Kemp said he was signing the bill "to ensure that all Georgians have the opportunity to live, grow, learn and prosper in our great state." The bill also deals with alimony, child support and even income tax deductions for fetuses, declaring that "the full value of a child begins at the point when a detectable human heartbeat exists."
Source: NBC News/Associated Press on 2022 Georgia Gubernatorial race May 7, 2019

Clarence Thomas: Nothing in Constitution dictates states must allow abortions

Thomas voted to overturn Roe in 1992, in his first term on the court, when he was a dissenter in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. He has repeatedly called for Roe and Casey to be overturned since. In 2000, he wrote in dissent when the court struck down Nebraska's ban on "partial-birth abortion." Recounting the court's decision in Roe, he wrote, "Nothing in our Federal Constitution deprives the people of this country of the right to determine whether the consequences of abortion to the fetus and to society outweigh the burden of an unwanted pregnancy on the mother. Although a State may permit abortion, nothing in the Constitution dictates that a State must do so."
Source: Associated Press on 2022 SCOTUS abortion rulings Nov 29, 2021

Derek Schmidt: Limited-government conservative who opposes abortion

Both Schmidt and Colyer are running as limited-government conservatives who oppose abortion, limits on gun rights and an expansion of the state's Medicaid health coverage for the needy. They'll also play to Trump's supporters in a state Trump carried comfortably in two elections.
Source: Associated Press on KSHB-41 on 2022 Kansas Governor race Mar 9, 2021

John Cranley: Personally opposes abortion but is pro-choice

Although Cranley, a Roman Catholic, personally opposes abortion, he doesn't think government should pass restrictions on the procedure that spark expensive, often unsuccessful, legal battles because "it's just not a good use of scarce resources."

"I'm pro-choice. I've struggled as a matter of faith," said Cranley, who supports same-sex marriage.

Source: Associated Press on WLWT: 2022 Ohio Gubernatorial race Aug 10, 2021

Spencer Cox: Supports law banning most abortions after 18 weeks

Cox said he supports a law Herbert signed banning most abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy. "I am unabashedly pro-life," he said.
Source: Associated Press coverage of 2020 Utah gubernatorial race May 14, 2019

Tony Evers: Challenge 1849 law: overturn state abortion ban

Republican Tim Michels said, "I will never arrest a doctor, as they're saying. I'm a reasonable guy." Under Wisconsin's abortion ban, doctors who perform abortions can be found guilty of a class H felony, punishable by up to six years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Tony Evers' campaign spokesman accused Michels of trying to hide his true support for "locking up doctors who provide abortions," noting his longtime support for banning abortions. The Democratic Attorney General filed a lawsuit, supported by Evers, seeking to overturn the state's ban. Evers and his allies have been spending tens of millions of dollars on television advertising to hammer Michels on his previous support for the 1849 law, which he called the "exact mirror" of his position. Evers is challenging the law in court and has twice called special sessions of the Legislature seeking to repeal the ban and create a way to put the question before voters. Republicans rejected both proposals.

Source: Associated Press on 2022 Wisconsin Governor race Oct 17, 2022

Scott Parkinson: Pro-life

Parkinson described himself as pro-life but declined to directly answer a question about what limits on abortion rights he thinks are most appropriate, including whether he supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.
Source: Associated Press on 2024 Virginia Senate race Apr 3, 2023

Francis Suarez: Supports a 15-week federal abortion ban, not yet for 6-week

Suarez drew some distinctions between himself and his rivals suggesting that the six-week abortion ban signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is too severe and showing an openness to changing the country's immigration system. In an interview with The Associated Press, Suarez expressed support for a 15-week federal abortion ban, saying the country "is not there yet" on six weeks.
Source: Associated Press on 2023 Presidential hopefuls Jun 15, 2023

Ryan Busse: State abortion restrictions threaten women's health care

Busse suggested that Republicans are vulnerable in the state after failing to keep housing prices affordable, not taking action to prevent potential property tax increases and threatening women's health care by passing several abortion restrictions.
Source: Associated Press on 2024 Montana Gubernatorial race Sep 14, 2023

Steve Garvey: No nationwide ban; uphold the voice of the people

On abortion, Garvey said he does not support a nationwide abortion ban. "The people of California have spoken on abortion, and as their representative, I pledge to always uphold the voice of the people," he said. When asked if he supported abortion rights, he added, "The people have spoken, and I will pledge to uphold that."Context from Associated Press 11/9/2022: Voters in California resoundingly approved a ballot measure to enshrine the right to abortion and contraception in the state constitution. Partial returns showed California's Proposition 1 leading with 68% of the vote. The amendment in California declares that the state "shall not deny or interfere with an individual's reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives."
Source: Newsmax and Associated Press on 2024 California Senate race Oct 10, 2023

  • The above quotations are from Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press on 2020 races.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Joe Biden on Abortion.
  • Click here for more quotes by Donald Trump on Abortion.
2024 Presidential contenders on Abortion:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Nov 03, 2024