Andy Beshear on Abortion

	Andy Beshear on Abortion

Defend law requiring ultrasound before abortion

Beshear joined an ACLU in a lawsuit to prevent the Bevin administration from shutting down Kentucky's only abortion clinic after the state moved to enforce regulations requiring the clinic to have mandatory patient transfer agreements with an ambulance service and hospital.

But Beshear has also defended a law passed in 2017 that requires doctors to perform an ultrasound and describe the results of that procedure to a woman seeking an abortion. He said he has an obligation at attorney general to defend state laws if their constitutionality is unclear. "It is also my duty to defend laws where the constitutionality is questionable and finality is needed," Beshear said at the time. "Adhering to these duties is why, after close review, my agencies will defend the agencies sued over HB 2 that seek our representation." A federal court recently upheld the law.

Source: Lexington Herald-Leader on Kentucky voting record HB2 , May 20, 2019

Endorsed by NARAL; will defend women's right to choose

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear picked up a last-minute endorsement from a staunch national abortion rights group in his bid to win the Democratic nomination for governor. The National Association to Repeal Abortion Laws, also known as NARAL, said they endorsed Beshear in a tight race on the eve of Kentucky's primary election because he represents the best chance to beat Republican Gov. Matt Bevin in November.

"Kentucky women and families deserve someone who will fight for them as governor, and Andy Beshear has always been there to defend Kentuckians' rights and freedoms," said the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "Kentucky is one of several states that passed an extreme ban on abortion this year, criminalizing abortion before many women even know they're pregnant, in large part due to anti-choice governor Matt Bevin."

Beshear's running mate for lieutenant governor, Jacqueline Coleman, says she now supports abortion rights but ran in 2014 as a "pro-life Democrat."

Source: Lexington Herald-Leader on 2019 Kentucky Gubernatorial race , May 20, 2019

I'm pro-choice and I support Roe v. Wade

Q: What will you do to expand or restrict access to reproductive health care?

A: Yes, I'm pro-choice and I support Roe v. Wade. I have consistently taken action to stand up to the legislature and Matt Bevin when they have pushed to undermine women's reproductive freedom. I think the parameters set forth in Roe v. Wade have the balance about right and I would not support changes to them. As governor I would move to codify Roe v. Wade into state law if the Supreme Court overturned the decision.

Source: Louisville Courier-Journal on 2019 Kentucky governor's race , May 10, 2019

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*Other governors on Abortion:*			*Andy Beshear on other issues:*
[Title7]	*Gubernatorial Debates 2023:* KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D) vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R) vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R) vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R) LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited) vs.Jeff Landry(R) vs.Shawn Wilson(D) vs.John Schroder(R) vs.Sharon Hewitt(R) MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R) vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew) vs.Brandon Presley(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2024:* DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited); Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D) vs. Matt Meyer (D) IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited); Sen. Mike Braun (R) vs. Suzanne Crouch (R) vs. Jennifer McCormick (D) MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited): Jay Ashcroft (R) vs. Bill Eigel (R) vs. Mike Kehoe (R) vs. Crystal Quade (D) MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) vs. Tanner Smith (R) vs. Ryan Busse (D)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):* NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited); Dale Folwell (R) vs. Michael Morgan (D) vs. Mark Robinson (R) vs. Josh Stein (D) vs. Andy Wells (R) ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R) vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R) NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring) vs. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Joyce Craig (D) vs. Chuck Morse (R) vs. Cinde Warmington (D) UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R) VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) unopposed WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring); Hilary Franz (D, withdrew) vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R) vs. WA Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited); vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew) vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R) vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R) vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]