In the crowded field of Republican presidential candidates who oppose abortion rights, Mike Pence stands out for his strong support of the cause. Pence, the former vice president who is seeking the White House in 2024, is the only major candidate who advocates for a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, a point at which many women may not even know they are pregnant. He has also called for a widely used abortion pill with a strong safety record to be taken off the market, and has urged his Republican rivals to support a 15-week federal ban as a minimum national standard.
In a recent interview, Pence went even further, stating that abortion should be banned even when a pregnancy is not viable, meaning that carrying the pregnancy to term would result in the baby’s death. This stance places him to the right of the other 2024 presidential candidates, who have largely stayed silent on the issue. However, doctors have criticized Pence’s position, arguing that there are medical conditions that make pregnancy nonviable and that banning abortion in these cases is cruel and endangers women’s lives and mental health.
The issue of nonviable pregnancies has gained attention since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the right to an abortion, leading to a wave of bans and restrictions in Republican-led states. Women in states like Texas, Florida, and Louisiana have shared their anguish at being denied abortions even in cases where their babies will be stillborn or have fatal birth defects. Some have had to wait until they developed life-threatening infections before receiving intervention, while others have had to travel to states where abortion is still permitted at great expense.
Pence’s position on abortion sets him apart from the majority of Americans who oppose the reversal of Roe v. Wade. While most people support some restrictions on abortion, a majority believe it should be legal during the early weeks of pregnancy. However, Pence maintains that restricting abortion is more important than politics and considers it the cause of our time.
Pence does state that he supports exceptions for cases of rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother. However, doctors argue that there are fetal conditions where there is no chance of a healthy outcome and it is cruel to force women to carry these pregnancies to term. They point to cases such as premature rupture of membranes, which can result in life-threatening complications and permanent infertility. Pro-choice advocates also highlight the case of Savita Halappanavar in Ireland, who died from sepsis after being denied an abortion.
In summary, Mike Pence’s strong stance against abortion, even in cases where a pregnancy is not viable, distinguishes him from the other Republican presidential candidates and places him to the right of the majority of Americans. Doctors and pro-choice advocates argue that banning abortion in nonviable pregnancies is cruel and endangers women’s lives and health.