Henry McMaster on Abortion

Signed Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act

Governor's statement in support (CNN 5/25): "The Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act will begin saving the lives of unborn children immediately," McMaster said. "We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed."

Planned Parenthood statement in opposition (CNN 5/25): Senate Bill 474 bans most abortions before many women know they are pregnant. Any physician who knowingly violates the law will have their license revoked by the State Board of Medical Examiners and could face felony charges. A similar six-week abortion ban passed in 2021 but struck down by the state Supreme Court

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-32-10 on May/17/23; passed Senate 27-19-0 on May/23/23; Signed by Gov. McMaster on May/25/23

Confident that Fetal Heartbeat bill is constitutional

Send me the heartbeat bill and I will immediately sign it

Prevent funneling of taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood

Supports Personhood Bill, defining life from conception

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.

Stop providing state funds to abortion clinics

Budget shouldn't "contain a penny" for 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."

Human life begins at conception