Past and present Senate candidates from Iowa: on Abortion


Fred Hubbell: AdWatch: commitment to Planned Parenthood

The first TV commercial promoting Fred Hubbell for governor begins running today. Opening campaign commercials are often biographical. Notably, Hubbell chose to introduce himself to Iowa television viewers by emphasizing his commitment to Planned Parenthood rather than his extensive business career. It's the latest sign that his early internal polling showed a strongly positive response when Democrats learned about Hubbell's support for a leading women's health care provider.
Source: BleedingHeartland.com AdWatch on 2018 Iowa Senate race Oct 20, 2017

Patty Judge: Supports public funding for Planned Parenthood

Q: On Healthcare: Should Planned Parenthood be eligible to receive public funds for non-abortion health services?

Grassley: No

Judge: Yes

Q: On Contraception: Should employers be able to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if they disagree with it morally?

Grassley: Yes. Religious freedom takes precedence.

Judge: Probable no, based on Emily's List endorsement.

Q: On Abortion: Should abortion be highly restricted?

Grassley: Yes

Judge: No

Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Iowa Senate race Oct 9, 2016

Patty Judge: Strong advocate for protecting access to women's health care

As a former nurse, Patty knows the importance of quality health care and how critical it is that women be able to make their own health care decisions. Patty has been a strong advocate throughout her career for protecting access to health care for women. She will stand up to Republicans like Chuck Grassley who believe Planned Parenthood should be defunded and will fight any attempts to make it more difficult for women to receive the health care they need.
Source: 2016 Iowa Senate campaign website PattyJudgeForIowa.com Aug 8, 2016

Joni Ernst: Human life begins at conception

Question topic: Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Ernst: Strongly Agree

Question topic: Should abortion be allowed under extenuating circumstances? If so, what circumstances?

Ernst: Yes, in the case of life of the mother.

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Iowa Senate race Sep 30, 2014

Joni Ernst: Affordable access to contraception

Braley supports access to abortion. Ernst opposes abortion. That led to a fierce back-and-forth where Braley said Ernst introduced legislation that would've banned all forms of abortion and prevented certain forms of contraception.

Ernst responded that the amendment Braley referenced "would not do any of the things that he stated it would do. That amendment is simply a statement that I support life."

"I always stand with our women on affordable access to contraception," added Ernst, who stood on a seven-inch riser to put her at eye level with her opponent. "That's something that Congressman Braley has been trying to mislead our women voters on. I do believe in a woman's right to contraception."

Source: Des Moines Register on 2014 Iowa Senate debate Sep 29, 2014

Joni Ernst: Personhood amendment is a statement of pro-life principle

Ernst, a state senator since 2010, was prodded to explain several positions she staked out on her way to winning the Republican primary in June, such as supporting a Personhood amendment.

Ernst defended her support for a Personhood amendment to the Iowa Constitution. Braley attacked Ernst for supporting the measure in the state legislature, which he said would allow doctors to be prosecuted for terminating pregnancies. That amendment is simply a statement that I support life." She added that she supports "a woman's right to contraception."

Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2014 Iowa Senate debate Sep 28, 2014

Doug Butzier: Leave abortion decisions to the states

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right"?

A: The constitution leaves this question to the States, so I would oppose any Federal interference with the issue.

Source: E-mail interview: 2014 Iowa Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Sep 17, 2014

Sam Clovis: Human life begins at conception

Question topic: Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Clovis: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Should abortion be allowed under extenuating circumstances? If so, what circumstances?

Clovis: I am a Catholic and cannot find my way to exceptions of any kind for abortion. Who protects the unborn if not those who are empowered by the Constitution? It is, after all, the main role of government to protect its citizens.

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Iowa Senate race Jul 2, 2014

Rob Hogg: Restricting abortion for "women's safety" won't win approval

Despite emotional testimony from women who claimed they were harmed by abortions, Iowa lawmakers were told that legislation to create a new cause of action based on physical injury or emotional distress is unnecessary and would have a chilling effect on abortion providers. The bill's House Sponsor said the legislation is consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that said the state has a legitimate interest in protecting the safety of women.

Lobbyists for the Iowa Medical Society and the ACLU-Iowa told lawmakers the cause of action exists in current law. Singling out one medical procedure will have a `chilling effect` on physicians who offer that service. The bill `feels like an attempt to intimidate providers,` added a representative of Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa.

Approval in the Senate seems unlikely, according to Judiciary Chairman Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who said he was unaware of the proposal.

Source: Quad City Times on 2016 Iowa Senate race Feb 13, 2014

Christopher Reed: Very pro-life; no abortion under any circumstances

Q: There are a couple of issues that are sort of perennial issues any time you have a political campaign, they are social issues. Abortion; where are you?

A: I am very pro-life.

Q: And what does very pro-life mean?

A: I do not agree with abortion.

Q: Under any circumstances?

A: Under any circumstances, life is a gift from God under any circumstances it’s granted.

Source: Dean Borg, Iowa Public TV. on 2008 Iowa Senate debate Jun 6, 2008

  • The above quotations are from Winners and Losers
    Senate candidates from Iowa.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
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)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Feb 22, 2019