As South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster faces a tough re-election fight, he has been backed by his opponent, Haley, in an issue concerning abortion. Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, has said she would sign a six-week abortion ban if elected governor.
This statement comes on the heels of the South Carolina legislature’s overwhelming passage of a bill that would prohibit abortions after six weeks gestation. The bill is in direct conflict with Roe v. Wade, which guarantees a woman’s right to an abortion up to 24 weeks.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Haley said she agrees with McMaster’s pro-life stance and that she would sign the six-week abortion ban if still South Carolina’s governor.
Haley’s decision to throw her support behind McMaster’s proposal puts her outside of the mainstream of South Carolina democrats. Most democrats would oppose the bill for its assumption that women’s decisions about their bodies should be legislated by the state.
While the bill has yet to reach McMaster’s desk, the majority of South Carolina residents have expressed their opposition to the bill. An Elon University poll, conducted in March, showed that 61% of people opposed the motion to impose a six-week ban on abortion.
If passed into law, it is possible that the bill could be challenged in court. Currently similar bills are being challenged in states such as Georgia, Ohio and Missouri, where abortion rights are protected under state law.
It is unclear how Haley’s support might impact the bill’s future. However it is clear that her decision to back the six-week abortion ban puts her in direct conflict with the majority of South Carolina residents who oppose the bill. It will be interesting to see if Haley changes her stance if elected governor come November.
“Haley Promises Six Weeks of Abortion Restriction – What Could Have Been if She Had Stayed Governor!
